Characteristics of attenuated plaque in culprit lesions for acute coronary syndrome in elderly patients / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the characteristics of attenuated plaque (AP) in culprit lesions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in elderly patients.Methods This study included 166 ACS patients meeting the conditions from Jan.1, 2013 to Sep.31, 2014.Clinical data, vascular lesions determined by coronary angiography and intravenous ultrasound (IVUS)-demonstrated characteristics of culprit plaque, which included presence of AP, maximum attenuation arc, extravascular elastic membrane area, lumen area, plaque area, plaque burden and remodeling index, were recorded.Results Compared with non-elderly group, elderly group had a higher proportion of multiple coronary-artery lesions (50.0％ vs.35.1％, x2=6.525, P =0.038), more attenuation plaques (62.0 ％ vs.45.9％, x2 =4.245, P=0.039), a larger maximum attenuation arc[(142±80)° vs.(115±54)°, t=5.254, P=0.000], larger plaque area[(14.2±3.9)mm2 vs.(12.3 ± 4.1) mm2, t=2.325, P=0.022], more plaque burden [(81.1±14.2)％ vs.(76.4±13.5)％, t=2.025, P=0.042] and higher remodeling index [(1.19±0.17) vs.(1.09±0.13), t=4.245, P=0.031].Conclusions The onset of ACS is more closely related with the unstable plaque in elderly patients, and strengthening the measures for plaque stabilization will be helpful in the prevention and treatment of ACS in the elderly.