Key result
CAD is linked to higher pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation, peaking in patients with zero calcium.
Why the study?
It is unclear whether there is any correlation between coronary artery inflammation and coronary atherosclerotic burden.
Is there an association between coronary artery inflammation (measured by PCAT attenuation) and coronary atherosclerotic burden (measured by CAC score)?
Population
346 eligible patients undergoing coronary CT angiography
Comparison
PCAT attenuation compared across different CAC scores and presence versus absence of CAD
Design
Cross-sectional study
Authors
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PCAT attenuation flags inflammation in zero-calcium CAD; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change risk stratification.
Observational (n=346)
No
Is there an association between coronary artery inflammation (measured by PCAT attenuation) and coronary atherosclerotic burden (measured by CAC score)?
Absolute Event Rate: -87.54% vs -93.45%
p-value: p=0.000
Coronary inflammation measured by PCAT attenuation is most pronounced in patients with non-calcified plaques (CAD with CAC=0) rather than correlating linearly with total calcified atherosclerotic burden.
Jing et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Coronary artery disease (n=346). Coronary artery disease vs. Non-CAD was evaluated on PCAT attenuation (p=0.000). Coronary artery disease patients had significantly higher pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation than non-CAD patients (-87.54 vs. -93.45 HU, P=0.000), with the highest inflammation seen in CAD patients with a calcium score of 0.
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