Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study is to determine if a new score calculated with coronary
artery calcium (CAC) density and volume is associated with total coronary artery plaque
burden and composition on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) compared to the Agatston
score (AS).
Methods
We identified 347 men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS cohort study who underwent
contrast and non-contrast CCTs, and had CAC>0. CAC densities (mean Hounsfield Units
[HU]) per plaque) and volumes on non-contrast CCT were measured. A Density-Volume
Calcium score was calculated by multiplying the plaque volume by a factor based on
the mean HU of the plaque (4, 3, 2 and 1 for 130–199, 200–299, 300–399, and ≥400HU).
Total Density-Volume Calcium score was determined by the sum of these individual scores.
The semi-quantitative partially calcified and total plaque scores (PCPS and TPS) on
CCTA were calculated. The associations between Density-Volume Calcium score, PCPS
and TPS were examined.
Results
Overall, 2879 CAC plaques were assessed. Multivariable linear regression models demonstrated
a stronger association between the log Density-Volume Calcium score and both the PCPS
(β 0.99, 95%CI 0.80–1.19) and TPS (β 2.15, 95%CI 1.88–2.42) compared to the log of
AS (PCPS: β 0.77, 95%CI 0.61–0.94; TPS: β 1.70, 95%CI 1.48–1.94). Similar results
were observed for numbers of PC or TP segments.
Conclusion
The new CAC score weighted towards lower density demonstrated improved correlation
with semi-quantitative PC and TP burden on CCTA compared to the traditional AS, which
suggests it has utility as an alternative measure of atherosclerotic burden.
Keywords
Abbreviations:
CAC (Coronary artery calcium), CCTA (Coronary computed tomographic angiography), CAD (Coronary artery disease), HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 24, 2019
Accepted:
September 23,
2019
Received in revised form:
November 30,
2018
Received:
February 13,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
