Isolated Coronary Arteritis in Adults: a Single-Center Experience from China.

Isolated coronary arteritis (ICA) is an extremely rare and life-threatening vasculitis with only a limited number of reports in the literature. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 10 ICA patients in our center from 2012 to 2022 and compared them with patients with Takayasu arteritis who presented with coronary arteritis initially (TAK-CA patients). We found that ICA predominantly affected women and most commonly involved the ostium and the proximal segment of the coronary arteries, causing mainly stenotic lesions. The C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were grossly normal and significantly lower than those of TAK-CA patients (p = 0.027, p = 0.009, respectively). Intravascular ultrasound imaging showed superiority in differentiating coronary vasculitis from atherosclerosis. Restenosis of the coronary arteries occurred rapidly if not treated promptly and appropriately. Systemic glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressive agents, especially cyclophosphamide, was a promising strategy for treating ICA.

Over-expansion of drug-eluting stents in patients with left main coronary artery disease: An in vivo study.

Objective We aimed to determine the capacity of drug-eluting stent (DES) over-expansion in left main coronary artery disease. Methods Left main interventions with the largest available DES platforms (4.0 mm) and post-dilation performed with large non-compliant balloons (≥ 4.5 mm) were included. Maximal stent diameter (mm) and area (mm2) were measured using post-intervention intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Stent diameter and area were calculated with the balloon diameter and inflation pressure. The diameter and area expansion indices were defined as follows: maximal/calculated stent diameter and maximal/calculated stent area, respectively. Results Twenty-three consecutive patients were included. The maximal stent diameter was 4.40 mm (4.30-4.80 mm), and 22 of 23 patients showed a diameter expansion index greater than 0.90. The area expansion index was 0.862. The expansion index < 0.85 group had a significantly higher percentage of calcification ≥ 90° on IVUS than did the expansion index ≥ 0.85 group (72.7% versus 16.7%, P = 0.007). One stent fracture occurred during over-expansion and one ischemic event occurred during follow-up. Conclusions DESs with a nominal diameter of 4.0 mm can be effectively over-expanded in left main coronary artery disease. Achievement of predicted stent area can be affected by calcification.