Multi-modality Imaging in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Overview

The goal of this study is to use three (3) different imaging techniques:Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) allows precise measurement of blood flow in the arteries to the heart, and is more reliable than pictures alone to determine the significance of blockages in the heart; Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy-Intravascular Ultrasound (NIRS IVUS) provides information about the amount of lipid and cholesterol in the plaque, and plaque volume; and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) allows physicians to assess tears in the surface of plaque and plaque thickness; to evaluate high risk non-infarct-related coronary lesion in patients who have suffered a recent heart attack, underwent successful opening of the artery with a stent, and have blockages greater than or equal to 50% in one or more of the other arteries to the heart; and to correlate this findings with cardiovascular outcomes at 1 year.

This is a prospective, open-label, single center registry. The study is designed to characterize plaque (i.e., assess vulnerable plaque features such as plaque tears, plaque thickness, plaque volume, and lipid content in plaque) in heart arteries in patients who have suffered a recent acute heart attack, and who have blockages \>50% in one or more of the other arteries in the heart. The procedure to do this will not be the same procedure that was done to open the artery that caused the heart attack, but will be scheduled 2-40 days after the first procedure, depending on the urgency to evaluate the other arteries and the stability of the patient after the first procedure. The study will specifically evaluate the plaque characteristics in the arteries that didn't cause the heart attack, to see if these arteries have vulnerable plaque and is at risk for future heart attacks. If FFR shows abnormal blood flow, these arteries will be treated with stents. All patients will be followed for 12 months after the second catheterization. The purpose of the study is to determine how commonly vulnerable plaques are identified in patients with acute heart attacks, and how often these lead to future cardiac problems. Identification of plaque features that lead to future problems may allow the development of new medications and devices to prevent future heart attacks and death. These same plaque features are also thought to be operative in patients with blockages in the arteries to the brain, so this study may have important implications for stroke prevention as well. All patients will be considered eligible for participation if they had a recent acute heart attack resulting from complete occlusion of an artery to the heart, if the stent procedure to open the artery was successful, and if they have blockages \> 50% in at least one other major heart artery. Patients will not be eligible for participation if they are too unstable with regard to heart, lung, brain, or kidney function, or if they have previous bypasses to the heart. In selected patients, Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) will be performed after the initial procedure to open the artery within 40 days. CCTA images will be evaluated for plaque characteristics, and correlated with the invasive findings.Fractional flow reserve via computed tomography (FFRCT), a non-invasive computed tomography method of measuring blood flow in the blocked arteries; will also be determined and correlated with invasive FFR. The standard portion of the procedure includes the angiogram (X-ray pictures of the arteries), FFR (measurement of blood flow in the artery), IVUS and/or OCT (to assess the diameter of the artery and the size of the stent), medications, and all office visits. The research portion of the study requires all imaging studies be performed (NIRS IVUS, OCT, FFR) rather than just one or two of these imaging studies, and the CCTA.