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Predictive value of the corrected TIMI frame count in patients with suspected angina pectoris but no obstructive coronary artery disease at angiography

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Abstract

Aims

To evaluate whether the corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (CTFC), an index of resting coronary blood flow, is associated with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with suspected stable angina pectoris (SAP) but no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) at angiography.

Methods and results

In this case–control study, CTFC at baseline in 127 patients (50 % women) who subsequently experienced a myocardial infarction, non-hemorrhagic stroke or cardiovascular death during 2001–2011 was compared with CTFC in 254 event-free matched controls. All patients had suspected SAP but no obstructive (≥50 % stenosis) CAD at baseline angiography. Mean CTFC in controls was 23.4 (95 % confidence interval 20.9–25.9) frames and mean CTFC in cases did not differ significantly with a difference of −1.0 (−3.1 to 1.1) frames (P = 0.35) and no sex-specific interaction (P = 0.18). In a conditional logistic regression model, we found no dose–response relationship between CTFC and the risk of MACE, i.e., compared to the risk in the lowest CTFC quintile, the odds ratios for MACE were 1.3 (0.7–2.6), 0.7 (0.3–1.3), 0.7 (0.4–1.5) and 1.0 (0.5–2.1) in the second, third, fourth and fifth CTFC quintiles, respectively. Adjustment for cardiac risk factors including diabetes, active smoking, body mass index, and use of lipid-lowering and antihypertensive medication did not significantly change the results.

Conclusions

In patients with SAP symptoms without obstructive CAD at angiography, CTFC is not associated with the risk of MACE.

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Acknowledgments

The invasive cardiologists at Bispebjerg and Gentofte University Hospitals, Copenhagen, Denmark are acknowledged for support.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lasse Jespersen, Steen Z. Abildstrøm & Eva Prescott

  2. Department of Cardiology, Gentofte University Hospital, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900, Hellerup, Denmark

    Adam Peña & Peter R. Hansen

Authors
  1. Lasse Jespersen
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  2. Steen Z. Abildstrøm
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  3. Adam Peña
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  4. Peter R. Hansen
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  5. Eva Prescott
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Correspondence to Lasse Jespersen.

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Jespersen, L., Abildstrøm, S.Z., Peña, A. et al. Predictive value of the corrected TIMI frame count in patients with suspected angina pectoris but no obstructive coronary artery disease at angiography. Clin Res Cardiol 103, 381–387 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-014-0665-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-014-0665-7

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