Noninvasive transthoracic doppler flow velocity and invasive thermodilution to assess coronary flow reserve

Kazuki Matsuda1, Masahiro Hoshino1, Eisuke Usui1

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.

Insights

Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFRS-TDE) and coronary flow reserve (CFRthermo) show modest correlation pre-PCI but no correlation post-PCI. These measures are not interchangeable, indicating distinct coronary physiologies after intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Physiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is crucial for prognostication and assessing epicardial stenosis and microvascular function.
  • The comparative accuracy of stress transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TDE)-derived CFR (CFRS-TDE) versus thermodilution-derived CFR (CFRthermo) pre- and post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the correlation between CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo before and after elective PCI guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR).
  • To determine if CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo are interchangeable in assessing coronary physiology post-PCI.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective registry study included 174 patients undergoing FFR-guided elective PCI for left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesions.
  • Invasive physiological measurements and pre- and post-PCI stress TDE examinations were performed.

Main Results:

  • A modest correlation (r=0.383) was observed between pre-PCI CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo, with CFRS-TDE underestimating CFRthermo.
  • Both CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo significantly increased post-PCI (P<0.001).
  • No significant correlation was found between changes in CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo post-PCI (r=0.008) or between post-PCI values (r=0.054).

Conclusions:

  • Pre-PCI CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo are modestly correlated but not interchangeable.
  • Post-PCI, CFRS-TDE and CFRthermo show no correlation, suggesting they reflect different coronary physiologies.
Abstract

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