Abstract:ObjectiveTo investigate the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) caused by plaque rupture and evaluate the therapeutic effect. MethodsThe patients diagnosed with AMI in the Department of Cardiology of Jilin Central Hospital from January 2019 to October 2022 were selected. After emergency percutaneous coronary angiography (CAG) and intracoronary thrombus removal (manual thrombus aspiration or drug intracoronary thrombolysis), the coronary blood flow in CAG confirming culprit vessel returned to TIMI level 3. Moreover, for the patients with visual estimation of culprit lesion stenosis <70.00%, OCT examination was performed at a selected time (7 days after hospitalization). Patients meeting the following OCT-defined plaque rupture features were managed without stenting and given intensive drug theraphy (n=29): rupture arc <90°; rupture length <1mm; absence of large free intimal flaps. CAG and OCT were reviewed 12 months after treatment, and the changes of OCT characteristics at baseline and 12 months after treatment were compared, and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 12 months were analyzed. ResultsOCT results of 29 patients were reviewed 12 months after treatment. Compared with the baseline OCT features, the thickness of the thin fiber cap increased [(74.66±20.79)μm, (95.21±16.31)μm], and the arc of ruptured plaque decreased [(83.69±6.30)°, (80.38±5.93)°]. The length of ruptured plaque decreased [(0.67±0.16)mm, (0.56±0.17)mm], the minimum lumen area increased [(3.58±0.55)mm2, (3.82±0.69)mm2], and the depth of ruptured plaque decreased [(1410.34±214.40)μm, (1251.38±208.22)μm], the percent area stenosis [(64.00±4.26)%, (61.79±4.23)%] and macrophage infiltration rate decreased [68.97%(20/29), 34.48%(10/29)], and the differences were statistically significant (t=11.71, 3.59, 3.55, 6.29, 9.84, 3.51, χ2=8.10, all P<0.01). After 12 months of follow-up, two patients (6.90%) were re-hospitalized for angina pectoris, of whom one patient showed no stenosis progression on follow-up CAG, and the other patient underwent stenting for a non-culprit lesion progression. No serious MACE occurred during follow-up. ConclusionsAfter removal of thrombosis in AMI, CAG lumen stenosis <70.00%, and OCT of the offender lesion showed plaque rupture leading to AMI. For patients with a plaque rupture arc less than 90°, a ruptured plaque length less than 1mm, and no large free inner membrane, drug therapy can avoid stent implantation, reduce the occurrence of no reflux and stent restenosis after stent implantation.
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