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Diagnostic concordance and discordance between angiography-based quantitative flow ratio and fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography in complex coronary artery disease
Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta Group, Galway University Hospital, Health Service Executive and CORRIB Core Lab, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway, IrelandDepartment of Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta Group, Galway University Hospital, Health Service Executive and CORRIB Core Lab, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway, IrelandDepartment of Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta Group, Galway University Hospital, Health Service Executive and CORRIB Core Lab, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway, IrelandDepartment of Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta Group, Galway University Hospital, Health Service Executive and CORRIB Core Lab, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway, IrelandCÚRAM, The SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, Galway, Ireland
Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Cardiovascular Section, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta Group, Galway University Hospital, Health Service Executive and CORRIB Core Lab, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway, IrelandCÚRAM, The SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, Galway, IrelandNHLI, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta Group, Galway University Hospital, Health Service Executive and CORRIB Core Lab, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway, IrelandCÚRAM, The SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, Galway, Ireland
Both quantitative flow ratio (QFR) and fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography (FFRCT) have shown significant correlations with invasive wire-based fractional flow reserve. However, the correlation between QFR and FFRCT is not fully investigated in patients with complex coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation and agreement between QFR and FFRCT in patients with de novo three-vessel disease and/or left main CAD.
Methods
This is a post-hoc sub-analysis of the international, multicenter, and randomized SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial, in which both invasive coronary angiography and coronary computed tomography angiography were prospectively obtained prior to the heart team discussion. QFR was performed in an independent core laboratory and compared with FFRCT analyzed by HeartFlow™. The correlation and agreement between QFR and FFRCT were assessed per vessel. Furthermore, independent factors of diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT were evaluated.
Results
Out of 223 patients, 40 patients were excluded from this analysis due to the unavailability of FFRCT and/or QFR, and a total of 469 vessels (183 patients) were analyzed. There was a strong correlation between QFR and FFRCT (R = 0.759; p < 0.001), and the Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a mean difference of −0.005 and a standard deviation of 0.116. An independent predictor of diagnostic concordance between QFR and FFRCT was the lesion location in right coronary artery (RCA) (odds ratio 0.395; 95% confidence interval 0.174–0.894; P = 0.026).
Conclusion
In patients with complex CAD, QFR and FFRCT were strongly correlated. The location of the lesion in RCA was associated with the highest diagnostic concordance between QFR and FFRCT.
Physiological assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) has become one of the most important factors in decision making for myocardial revascularization.
There are two important binary decision points in the evaluation and management of patients with known or suspected CAD: first, to perform invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and second, to revascularize an identified coronary stenosis.
In the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines, fractional flow reserve (FFR) to guide revascularization as is a Class Ia recommendation
ACC/AATS/AHA/ASE/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/STS 2017 appropriate use criteria for coronary revascularization in patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology appropriate use criteria task force, American association for thoracic surgery, American heart association, American society of echocardiography, American society of nuclear Cardiology, society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions, society of cardiovascular computed tomography, and society of thoracic surgeons.
. Furthermore, the current ESC guidelines for chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) recommend the use of invasive FFR for localization of ischemia in multivessel CAD patients with angina symptoms even in cases, in which pre-procedural documentation of ischemia by non-invasive tests, such as echocardiography, stress echocardiography, myocardial perfusion imaging, or stress magnetic resonance imaging are available.
Image derived physiological assessment, such as fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography angiography (FFRCT) and quantitative flow ratio (QFR), has also been developed. Non-invasive FFRCT may provide anatomic information and functional evaluation of ischemia prior to ICA. A number of trials have demonstrated that the correlation between FFRCT and invasive FFR is high
Diagnosis of ischemia-causing coronary stenoses by noninvasive fractional flow reserve computed from coronary computed tomographic angiograms. Results from the prospective multicenter DISCOVER-FLOW (Diagnosis of Ischemia-Causing Stenoses Obtained via Noninvasive Fractional Flow Reserve) study.
Diagnostic performance of noninvasive fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography in suspected coronary artery disease: the NXT trial (Analysis of Coronary Blood Flow Using CT Angiography: next Steps).
Fractional flow reserve calculation from 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography and TIMI frame count: a fast computer model to quantify the functional significance of moderately obstructed coronary arteries.
QFR estimates the trans-stenotic pressure drop according to 3-dimensional (3D) quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and virtual hyperemic flow derived from contrast frame count without real drug-induced hyperemia.
Diagnostic performance of in-procedure angiography-derived quantitative flow reserve compared to pressure-derived fractional flow reserve: the FAVOR II europe-Japan study.
QFR improves the diagnostic accuracy by identifying hemodynamically significant lesions compared with the assessment of coronary stenosis on 2-dimensional QCA.
Diagnostic accuracy of fast computational approaches to derive fractional flow reserve from diagnostic coronary angiography: the international multicenter FAVOR pilot study.
Angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in the SYNTAX II trial: feasibility, diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio, and clinical prognostic value of functional SYNTAX score derived from quantitative flow ratio in patients with 3-vessel disease.
A previous study has demonstrated that FFRCT and QFR were strongly correlated with invasive FFR in CCS population with relatively simple coronary lesions; however, diagnostic discordances between FFRCT and FFR and between QFR and FFR were frequent.
was to investigate the correlation and agreement between FFRCT and QFR in patients with de novo three-vessel disease (3VD) and/or left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD).
2. Methods
2.1 Study design and population
The present study is a post-hoc analysis of the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial (NCT02813473), which has investigated the agreement in decision making between two heart teams on the selection of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as modalities of revascularization, using either coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with FFRCT or ICA, while blinded to the other imaging modality in patients with de novo 3VD and/or LMCAD.
Non-invasive Heart Team assessment of multivessel coronary disease with coronary computed tomography angiography based on SYNTAX score II treatment recommendations: design and rationale of the randomised SYNTAX III Revolution trial.
The trial enrolled a total of 223 patients in 6 centers from five European countries. ICA was available for all patients. FFRCT was available for 196/223 (87.9%) patients.
In the independent core laboratory (CORRIB Core Lab, Galway, Ireland), QFR was analyzed in those patients. Similarly, severity and extension of CAD were assessed using the anatomical SYNTAX score with CCTA and ICA.
The presence/absence of LMCAD was judged according to the calculation of the anatomical SYNTAX score derived from ICA.
The trial was approved by the investigational review board or ethics committee at each participating center. The principal investigators had unrestricted access to the data, were involved in the analysis and interpretation of the data. The principal investigators guarantee the completeness and accuracy of the data and analyses and the fidelity of the trial to the protocol.
2.2 Image acquisition and analysis of CCTA
CCTA was performed with the Revolution CT scanner (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA) that has a nominal spatial resolution of 230 μm along the X–Y planes, a rotational speed of 0.28 s and a Z-plane coverage of 16 cm enabling imaging of the whole heart in one heartbeat.
Image quality and radiation dose of coronary CT angiography performed with whole-heart coverage CT scanner with intra-cycle motion correction algorithm in patients with atrial fibrillation.
In select cases, a proprietary post-processing algorithm (SnapShot Freeze, GE Healthcare) was additionally used for the correction of any residual motion artefacts.
Image quality and radiation dose of coronary CT angiography performed with whole-heart coverage CT scanner with intra-cycle motion correction algorithm in patients with atrial fibrillation.
The protocol mandated the use of nitrates prior to CT acquisition and beta-blockers in cases of heart rate higher than 65 bpm.
2.3 Analysis of FFRCT
The FFRCT analysis was performed in a blinded fashion at the core laboratory (HeartFlow, Redwood City, California). FFRCT was calculated from CCTA datasets by using computational fluid dynamics modeling after semiautomated segmentation of coronary arteries and left ventricular mass. Coronary blood flow and pressure were simulated under conditions modeling maximal hyperemia. Details of the underlying principle of FFRCT computation were previously reported
Diagnosis of ischemia-causing coronary stenoses by noninvasive fractional flow reserve computed from coronary computed tomographic angiograms. Results from the prospective multicenter DISCOVER-FLOW (Diagnosis of Ischemia-Causing Stenoses Obtained via Noninvasive Fractional Flow Reserve) study.
. The continuous results of FFRCT were displayed, color-coded and superimposed on the coronary arterial tree. FFRCT ≤0.50 was noted as FFRCT = 0.50 because FFRCT cannot provide actual values if ≤ 0.50. In case of total occlusion, FFRCT was not provided but was regarded as FFRCT = 0.50.
In the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial, all ICA's were preceded by an intra-coronary injection of isosorbide dinitrate or nitroglycerin. In the independent core laboratory (CORRIB Core Lab, Galway, Ireland), off-line QFR analysis was performed in a blinded fashion by experienced observers using validated software (QAngio XA 3D/QFR 1.0 software, Medis Medical Imaging Systems BV, Leiden, The Netherlands). Details of the QFR calculation method was reported previously.
Fractional flow reserve calculation from 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography and TIMI frame count: a fast computer model to quantify the functional significance of moderately obstructed coronary arteries.
In brief, QFR calculation was based on the 3D-QCA reconstruction derived from two angiographic projections with angles ≥25° apart and volumetric flow rate calculated by using contrast bolus frame count.
Diagnostic accuracy of fast computational approaches to derive fractional flow reserve from diagnostic coronary angiography: the international multicenter FAVOR pilot study.
Diagnostic accuracy of fast computational approaches to derive fractional flow reserve from diagnostic coronary angiography: the international multicenter FAVOR pilot study.
Lesions were excluded from the analysis if they 1) had a reference lumen diameter below 2.0 mm by visual assessment, 2) presented slow coronary blood flow (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] 1 or 2, 3) were acquired from less than two projections with isocenter calibration information, 4) had severe vessel overlap at the stenotic segments, or 5) had poor angiographic image quality precluding precise contour delineation.
QFR calculation was performed from the ostium of the main coronary vessels (i.e., right coronary artery [RCA], left main trunk [LM]/left anterior descending artery [LAD], and LM/left circumflex artery [LCX]) to the distal point with an anatomical landmark (i.e. side branch), at a site where the lumen diameter of the vessel was still at least 2 mm (Fig. 1).
Angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in the SYNTAX II trial: feasibility, diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio, and clinical prognostic value of functional SYNTAX score derived from quantitative flow ratio in patients with 3-vessel disease.
In case of a LM lesion, the proximal point of analysis was set at the catheter tip. Because QFR cannot be measured in a totally occluded artery before revascularization, a default QFR value of 0.50 was imputed in the case of total or subtotal occlusions.
The automatic reference interpolation function was used to establish the reference diameter for QFR calculation. A cutoff QFR ≤0.80 was used to indicate a flow-limiting lesion.
Reference vessel diameter, lesion length and percent area stenosis were derived from the 3D-QCA and displayed simultaneously with the QFR results.
Fig. 1Diagnostic concordance and discordance between FFRCT and QFR. (A) Diagnostic concordance between FFRCT and QFR. Top left panel: Curved MPR and straight MPR images in IM. Top right panel: FFRCT analysis in IM. Bottom panel: QFR analysis (LM to IM). (B) Diagnostic discordance between FFRCT and QFR (Positive FFRCT and negative QFR). Top left panel: Curved MPR and straight MPR images in LAD. Top right panel: FFRCT analysis in LAD. Bottom panel: QFR analysis (LM to LAD). (C) Diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT (Negative FFRCT and positive QFR). Top left panel: Curved MPR and straight MPR images in RCA. Top right panel: FFRCT analysis in RCA. Bottom panel: QFR analysis (RCA).
Quantitative variables are reported as mean ± standard deviation [SD] or median and interquartile range (interquartile range, 25–75%). Categorical variables are expressed as numeric values and percentages. The Pearson correlation and the Passing-Bablok regression analysis were used to quantify the correlation between QFR and FFRCT.
A new biometrical procedure for testing the equality of measurements from two different analytical methods. Application of linear regression procedures for method comparison studies in clinical chemistry, Part I.
Those analyses were preformed per vessel. Diagnostic discordance between QFR (≤0.80: positive or >0.80: negative) and FFRCT (≤0.80: positive or >0.80: negative) was also assessed per vessel (Fig. 1). To assess factors of diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. Since a vessel level analysis was performed in the present study, the covariates in the adjusted model included the main coronary vessels (RCA, LM/LAD, or LM/LCX), the presence of lesion length >20 mm, heavy calcification, aorto-ostial lesion, and bifurcation or trifurcation in the vessel based on anatomical SYNTAX score calculation derived from ICA measured by the core laboratory, which had been selected based on prior knowledge of the association of these covariates with the outcomes.
In addition, since the data of QFR for LMCAD are not fully investigated, the correlation and agreement between QFR and FFRCT in LAD and LCX stratified by the presence/absence of LMCAD were assessed. A 2-sided p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. All data were processed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Inc, Armonk, NY, USA).
3. Results
3.1 Study participants and baseline characteristics
Out of 223 patients in the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial, 27 (12.1%) patients were excluded from this analysis due to the unavailability of FFRCT. Out of 596 vessels in 196 patients, 127 (21.3%) vessels were non-analyzable for QFR mainly due to no appropriate two projections (Fig. 2). Therefore, in the present study, a total of 469 (78.7%) vessels in 183 patients were analyzed.
Baseline patient characteristics are shown in Table 1, and vessel characteristics are presented in Table 2. Most patients were male, and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 36.0%. About one-fourth (25.7%) of patients had a LMCAD. Total occlusion was present in 20.5% (96/469) of vessels.
Table 1Baseline characteristics of study patients.
Patient, number (%) or mean ± standard deviation
183 (100)
Male
159 (86.9)
Age, year-old
67.0 ± 8.9
Body mass index, kg/m2
26.4 ± 3.6
Smoking
122 (63.2)
Past smoker
73 (41.2)
Current smoker
39 (22.0)
Diabetes mellitus
66 (36.0)
Type 1
7 (3.8)
Type 2
43 (32.2)
Insulin user
17 (9.4)
Hypertension
133 (72.7)
Hyperlipidemia
121 (66.1)
Previous stroke
15 (8.2)
Previous myocardial infarction
2 (1.1)
Previous cardiac surgery
0 (0)
COPD
21 (11.5)
Peripheral vascular disease
26 (14.2)
Creatinine clearance, ml/min
81.8 ± 27.8
Left ventricular ejection fraction, %
54.5 ± 11.3
Left main disease
47 (25.7)
Anatomical SYNTAX score derived from ICA measured by the core laboratory
29.6 ± 11.8
Anatomical SYNTAX score derived from MSCT measured by the core laboratory
On CCTA, heavy calcification was defined as presence of calcium that encompasses more than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the vessel at any location within the specific lesion.9 On ICA, it was defined as multiple persisting opacifications of the coronary wall visible in more than one projection surrounding the complete lumen of the coronary artery at the site of the lesion.9
77 (16.4)
Reference lumen diameter, mm
2.75 ± 0.64
FFRCT ≤0.80
394 (84.0)
QFR ≤0.80
372 (79.3)
RCA: right coronary artery, LM: left main trunk; LAD: left descending artery, LCX: left circumflex, FFRCT: fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography, QFR: quantitative flow ratio, CCTA: coronary computed tomography angiography, ICA: invasive coronary angiography.
a On CCTA, heavy calcification was defined as presence of calcium that encompasses more than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the vessel at any location within the specific lesion.
On ICA, it was defined as multiple persisting opacifications of the coronary wall visible in more than one projection surrounding the complete lumen of the coronary artery at the site of the lesion.
Scatter diagram with regression line between QFR and FFRCT. Blue line shows the regression line, and the red dotted lines show the 95% CI. The diagnostic discordance (55 vessels, 11.7%) is a total of QFR ≤0.80 and FFRCT >0.80 (16 vessels, 3.4%) and FFRCT ≤0.80 and QFR >0.80 (39 vessels, 8.3%).
QFR: Quantitative flow ratio; FFRCT: fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography; CI confidence interval. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)
Bland-Altman plots of QFR and FFRCT. Blue line shows the regression line, and the red dotted lines show the 95% CI.
QFR: Quantitative flow ratio; FFRCT: fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography; CI confidence interval. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)
Diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT was observed in 55 (11.7%) vessels and mainly occurred in vessels with high QFR (>0.80) and low FFRCT (≤0.80) (Fig. 3). The Pearson correlation and the Passing-Bablok regression analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between QFR and FFRCT (R = 0.759; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.714 to 0.798; P < 0.001) (Fig. 3). The Bland-Altman analysis between QFR and FFRCT demonstrated slightly lower value in FFRCT with a mean difference of −0.005 and a SD of 0.116 (Fig. 4).
3.3 Multivariate analysis to search for independent factors for diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT
The logistic regression analysis to investigate independent factors of diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT is shown in Table 3.
Table 3Multivariate analysis to search for independent factors for diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT.
On CCTA, heavy calcification was defined as presence of calcium that encompasses more than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the vessel at any location within the specific lesion.9 On ICA, it was defined as multiple persisting opacifications of the coronary wall visible in more than one projection surrounding the complete lumen of the coronary artery at the site of the lesion.9
1.245 (0.598–2.592)
0.557
Aorto-ostial lesion
1.529 (0.475–4.918)
0.476
Bifurcation/trifurcation
1.328 (0.695–2.541)
0.391
QFR: quantitative flow ratio, FFRCT: fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography, LM: left main trunk; LAD: left descending artery, RCA: right coronary artery, LCX: left circumflex, CI: confidence interval.
a On CCTA, heavy calcification was defined as presence of calcium that encompasses more than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the vessel at any location within the specific lesion.
On ICA, it was defined as multiple persisting opacifications of the coronary wall visible in more than one projection surrounding the complete lumen of the coronary artery at the site of the lesion.
In the multivariate analysis, an independent predictor of diagnostic concordance between QFR and FFRCT was the lesion location in RCA (odds ratio [OR] 0.395; 95% CI 0.174 to 0.894; P = 0.026). The other lesion characteristics such as heavy calcification were not independent predictors of the discordance between the two imaging modalities (OR 1.245; 95% CI 0.598 to 2.592; P = 0.557).
3.4 Correlation and agreement between QFR and FFRCT in LAD and LCX stratified according to the presence/absence of LMCAD
When the vessels with LMCAD were included in the analysis, the Pearson correlation and the Passing-Bablok regression analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between QFR and FFRCT in LM/LAD and LM/LCX (R = 0.709; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.644 to 0.763; P < 0.001) (Online Fig. 1). The Bland-Altman analysis between QFR and FFRCT in LM/LAD and LM/LCX demonstrated slightly lower value in FFRCT with a mean difference of −0.010 and a SD of 0.125 (Online Fig. 1).
When the vessels with LMCAD were not included in the analysis, the Pearson correlation and the Passing-Bablok regression analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between QFR and FFRCT in LAD and LCX (R = 0.794; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.735 to 0.841; P < 0.001) (Online Fig. 2). The Bland-Altman analysis between QFR and FFRCT in LAD and LCX demonstrated slightly lower value in FFRCT with a mean difference of −0.009 and a SD of 0.113 (Online Fig. 2).
4. Discussion
The main findings of the present study can be summarized as follows:
1.
Among patients with de novo 3VD and/or LMCAD, QFR and FFRCT were strongly correlated.
2.
An independent predictor of diagnostic concordance between QFR and FFRCT was the lesion location in RCA.
3.
QFR and FFRCT in LAD and LCX correlated well, regardless of the presence of LMCAD.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the correlation and agreement between QFR and FFRCT in a specific population of patients with de novo 3VD and/or LMCAD. Compared with invasive FFR, especially in patients with complex CAD, QFR and FFRCT could reduce procedure time, wire-related complications, patient's discomfort and costs because there is no need to use a pressure guidewire or to induce maximum hyperemia. In the present sub-analysis of the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial, all patients had de novo 3VD and/or LMCAD with a mean angiographic anatomical SYNTAX score of 30.3 ± 12.2. Therefore, the heart team was consulted in the decision making on the revascularization treatment strategy to be followed, either CABG or PCI.
is the absence or presence of invasive FFR as a comparator. However, in the present study, the mean diseased vessel number per patient was 2.6 (469 vessels/183 patients). This population represents a more anatomically complex CAD than the one enrolled in the previous publication by Tanigaki et al.,
in which the mean diseased vessel number per patient was 1.5 (233 vessels/152 patients).
In our analysis, heavy calcification and other complex lesion characteristics were not independent predictors of diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT. CCTA is sensitive in detecting calcium and its distribution, but the quantification of calcification is hampered and overestimated by the blooming artefact
Cracking (the code of) coronary artery calcification to win the last battle of percutaneous coronary intervention: still in the middle of a rocky road.
. In the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial, heavily calcified lesions were documented in 28.9% according to the assessment of the heart team allocated to CCTA.
Impact of fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography on heart team treatment decision-making in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: insights from the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial.
However, our results suggest that CCTA, especially when acquired with newest generation multislice computed tomography, could be used for patients with complex calcified lesions. In addition, a hypothetic explanation for better diagnostic concordance between QFR and FFRCT in RCA compared to the other vessels is that the stenotic RCA might be less affected by heavy calcification from the aspects of anatomical factors and/or plaque components.
Especially for LMCAD, the diagnostic accuracy of QFR has not been fully evaluated.
To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the largest dataset including QFR analysis in LMCAD. In our analysis, LMCAD was included in one-fourth of patients. The exploratory analysis in LAD and LCX showed similar strong correlation between QFR and FFRCT irrespective presence/absence of LMCAD. This finding may suggest the clinical relevance of QFR for LMCAD, although further trials comparing wire-based FFR and QFR are warranted.
Both FFRCT and QFR could be used for decision making of revascularization mode, treatment planning, and possibly execution of PCI or CABG in the context of heart team discussion for patients with complex CAD. FFRCT is used mainly in the outpatient setting and has been shown to reduce the number of unnecessary ICA in patients without functionally significant CAD.
This imaging modality could provide the heart team with comprehensive information on anatomical disease extension, plaque composition, and physiological repercussion of narrowing. The ongoing FASTTRACK CABG trial is testing the feasibility and safety of treatment planning and execution of CABG solely based on CCTA and FFRCT.
Safety and feasibility evaluation of planning and execution of surgical revascularisation solely based on coronary CTA and FFRCT in patients with complex coronary artery disease: study protocol of the FASTTRACK CABG study.
QFR obtained during diagnostic ICA helps the decision making in revascularization planning by identifying functionally significant lesions. In the SYNTAX II trial enrolling patients with 3VD, the percentage of analyzable QFR amounted to 71.0% of lesions, and QFR had a good correlation with the wire-based physiological assessment (area under the curve 0.81, accuracy 73.8%).
Angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in the SYNTAX II trial: feasibility, diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio, and clinical prognostic value of functional SYNTAX score derived from quantitative flow ratio in patients with 3-vessel disease.
Therefore, QFR could further guide PCI by providing functional assessment after stenting.
5. Limitations
The present study must be cautiously interpreted due to some limitations. First, invasive FFR as a gold standard of physiological assessment for intermediate coronary stenosis was not performed. However, a previous study demonstrated that QFR and FFRCT showed a strong correlation with invasive FFR.
Therefore, we investigated factors of diagnostic discordance between QFR and FFRCT on ischemia in patients with de novo 3VD and/or LMCAD. Second, the present study was a retrospective and non-pre-specified analysis. The ICA was not prospectively acquired according to specific acquisition protocol to fulfill all the technical requirement of QFR analysis. Third, the diagnostic performance of both QFR and FFRCT in the scenario of concomitant epicardial and microvascular dysfunction and/or coronary collaterals to obstructed vessels was not investigated. In the presence of microvascular disease, there is an increase in the microvascular resistance resulting in reduced trans-stenotic pressure drop and flow values. In view of this, microvascular disease may impair the performance of both QFR and FFRCT derived values. Indeed, the computational blood flow analysis of FFRCT relies on the assumptions regarding microvascular resistance. Finally, FFRCT and QFR are two “luminogram” surrogates of the pressure derived indices that were not available in this patient population. Ideally, the diagnostic accuracy of these two angiographic surrogates should be evaluated and compared with the gold standard of pressure measurement during hyperemia in the investigated population. Indeed, we relied on the validations on angiographic QFR and wire-based physiological assessment already reported in the literature and indulged ourselves in a comparison of surrogates.
Angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in the SYNTAX II trial: feasibility, diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio, and clinical prognostic value of functional SYNTAX score derived from quantitative flow ratio in patients with 3-vessel disease.
In patients with complex CAD, QFR and FFRCT were strongly correlated. The location of the lesion in RCA was associated with the highest diagnostic concordance between QFR and FFRCT.
Sources of funding
The SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial was conducted under the support of the unrestricted resource from HeartFlow.
Trial registration number
NCT02813473.
Declaration of competing interest
Dr. Hara reports a grant for studying overseas from Japanese Circulation Society and a grant from Fukuda Foundation for Medical Technology, outside the submitted work.
Brian Thomsen is an employee of GE Healthcare.
Dr. Teichgräber reports grants from GE Healthcare, from null, outside the submitted work. Dr. Wijns reports grants and personal fees from MicroPort, outside the submitted work, and co-founder of Argonauts, an innovation facilitator.
Dr. Serruys reports personal fees from SMT, Philips/Volcano, Xeltis, Novartis, and Merillife.
All other authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Acknowledgments
None.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
The following is the supplementary data to this article:
ACC/AATS/AHA/ASE/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/STS 2017 appropriate use criteria for coronary revascularization in patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology appropriate use criteria task force, American association for thoracic surgery, American heart association, American society of echocardiography, American society of nuclear Cardiology, society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions, society of cardiovascular computed tomography, and society of thoracic surgeons.
Diagnosis of ischemia-causing coronary stenoses by noninvasive fractional flow reserve computed from coronary computed tomographic angiograms. Results from the prospective multicenter DISCOVER-FLOW (Diagnosis of Ischemia-Causing Stenoses Obtained via Noninvasive Fractional Flow Reserve) study.
Diagnostic performance of noninvasive fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography in suspected coronary artery disease: the NXT trial (Analysis of Coronary Blood Flow Using CT Angiography: next Steps).
Fractional flow reserve calculation from 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography and TIMI frame count: a fast computer model to quantify the functional significance of moderately obstructed coronary arteries.
Diagnostic performance of in-procedure angiography-derived quantitative flow reserve compared to pressure-derived fractional flow reserve: the FAVOR II europe-Japan study.
Diagnostic accuracy of fast computational approaches to derive fractional flow reserve from diagnostic coronary angiography: the international multicenter FAVOR pilot study.
Angiography-derived fractional flow reserve in the SYNTAX II trial: feasibility, diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio, and clinical prognostic value of functional SYNTAX score derived from quantitative flow ratio in patients with 3-vessel disease.
Non-invasive Heart Team assessment of multivessel coronary disease with coronary computed tomography angiography based on SYNTAX score II treatment recommendations: design and rationale of the randomised SYNTAX III Revolution trial.
Image quality and radiation dose of coronary CT angiography performed with whole-heart coverage CT scanner with intra-cycle motion correction algorithm in patients with atrial fibrillation.
A new biometrical procedure for testing the equality of measurements from two different analytical methods. Application of linear regression procedures for method comparison studies in clinical chemistry, Part I.
Cracking (the code of) coronary artery calcification to win the last battle of percutaneous coronary intervention: still in the middle of a rocky road.
Impact of fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography on heart team treatment decision-making in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: insights from the SYNTAX III REVOLUTION trial.
Safety and feasibility evaluation of planning and execution of surgical revascularisation solely based on coronary CTA and FFRCT in patients with complex coronary artery disease: study protocol of the FASTTRACK CABG study.
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