Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Association between serum uric acid and high-risk plaques assessed by coronary CT angiography
Xinguang Long1, Yao Jing2, Zhou Haitao3
1Cardiology, Yangzhongshi renmin yiyuan, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China c0926262@163.com.
Insights
Serum uric acid (UA) is an independent risk factor for high-risk coronary artery plaques detected by coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Measuring UA may improve the detection and risk stratification of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Biomarkers
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- High-risk plaques (HRPs) on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) are crucial indicators of acute coronary events.
- Serum uric acid (UA) has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, but its specific association with HRPs requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between serum uric acid levels and the presence of high-risk coronary plaques identified by CCTA.
- To evaluate the independent predictive value of serum UA for HRPs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1411 outpatients who underwent CCTA.
- HRPs defined by specific plaque characteristics (positive remodeling, low-attenuation plaque, napkin ring sign, spotty calcification).
- Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were used to assess the relationship between serum UA and HRP risk, with subgroup analyses performed.
Main Results:
- Serum uric acid was independently associated with a higher risk of HRPs (OR 2.96 per SD increment, p<0.001) after multivariate adjustment.
- The predictive model incorporating serum UA demonstrated good accuracy (AUC 0.86).
- No significant effect modification was observed in subgroup analyses based on sex, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, or obstructive CAD.
Conclusions:
- Serum uric acid is an independent risk factor for the presence of high-risk coronary artery plaques on CCTA.
- Serum UA measurement may enhance the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities for coronary artery disease when combined with clinical factors.
Objectives:
To investigate the association between serum uric acid (UA) and high-risk plaques (HRPs) assessed by coronary CT angiography (CCTA).
Methods:
In this retrospective study, we included outpatients who underwent CCTA. HRP was defined as ≥any 2 of the following features: positive remodelling, low-attenuation plaque (LAP), napkin ring sign and spotty calcification. Plaque volume, Agatston score, vessel stenosis, segment stenosis score (SSS) and segment involvement score (SIS) were also determined by CCTA. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between serum UA and the risk of HRP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess model's accuracy and discrimination. Subgroup analysis based on sex (male/female), diabetes mellitus (yes/no), smoking status (yes/no), alcohol use (yes/no), obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (yes/no), Agatston score (<300 or ≥300) was performed.
Results:
1411 subjects were included in the final analysis, with a mean age of 64.26±9.92 years and a median serum UA value of 425 µmol/L (IQR 296-622). A total of 344 cases of HRPs were identified. Multivariable logistic regression showed that serum UA (OR 2.96 per SD increment, 95% CI 1.85~4.76, p<0.001) was associated with higher risk of HRP after adjustment of sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obstructive CAD, age, Agatston score, total plaque volume, LAP volume, SSS and SIS. ROC analysis showed that area under curve of the model was 0.86 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.88, p<0.001). In subgroup analysis, no effect modification was found (all p>0.05).
Conclusion:
Serum UA is an independent risk factor for high-risk coronary artery plaques on CCTA. Measuring serum UA might provide improvement of discrimination and reclassification for CAD when added to clinical characteristics.
More Related Videos
![Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F3777.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
10:02Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT
Published on: May 2, 2012
13:07Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies