Yu Kataoka1, Rishi Puri1, Muhammad Hammadah1, Bhanu Duggal1, Kiyoko Uno1, Samir R Kapadia1, E Murat Tuzcu1, Steven E Nissen1, Peta King1, Stephen J Nicholls2. 1. From the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia (Y.K., P.K., S.J.N.); Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (R.P., M.H., B.D., K.U., S.R.K., E.M.T.); and Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research, OH (R.P., K.U., S.E.N.). 2. From the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia (Y.K., P.K., S.J.N.); Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH (R.P., M.H., B.D., K.U., S.R.K., E.M.T.); and Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research, OH (R.P., K.U., S.E.N.). stephen.nicholls@sahmri.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Numerous reports suggest sex-related differences in atherosclerosis. Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography has enabled visualization of plaque microstructures associated with disease instability. The prevalence of plaque microstructures between sexes has not been characterized. We investigated sex differences in plaque features in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nonculprit plaques on frequency-domain optical coherence tomography imaging were compared between men and women with either stable coronary artery disease (n=320) or acute coronary syndromes (n=115). A greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was observed in women. Nonculprit plaques in women with stable coronary artery disease were more likely to exhibit plaque erosion (8.6% versus 0.3%; P=0.03) and a smaller lipid arc (163.1±71.4° versus 211.2±71.2°; P=0.03), and less likely to harbor cholesterol crystals (17.2% versus 27.5%; P=0.01) and calcification (15.4% versus 34.4%; P=0.008), whereas fibrous cap thickness (105.2±62.1 versus 96.1±40.4 µm; P=0.57), the prevalence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (26.5% versus 25.2%; P=0.85), and microchannels (19.2% versus 20.5%; P=0.95) were comparable. In women with acute coronary syndrome, a smaller lipid arc (171.6±53.2° versus 235.8±86.4°; P=0.03), a higher frequency of plaque erosion (11.4% versus 0.6%; P=0.04), and a lower prevalence of cholesterol crystal (28.6% versus 38.2%; P=0.03) and calcification (10.0% versus 23.7%; P=0.01) were observed. These differences persisted after adjusting clinical demographics. Although thin-cap fibroatheromas in men clustered within proximal arterial segments, thin-cap fibroatheromas were evenly distributed in women. CONCLUSIONS: Despite more comorbid risk factors in women, their nonculprit plaques exhibited more plaque erosion, and less cholesterol and calcium content. This distinct phenotype suggests sex-related differences in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND: Numerous reports suggest sex-related differences in atherosclerosis. Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography has enabled visualization of plaque microstructures associated with disease instability. The prevalence of plaque microstructures between sexes has not been characterized. We investigated sex differences in plaque features in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nonculprit plaques on frequency-domain optical coherence tomography imaging were compared between men and women with either stable coronary artery disease (n=320) or acute coronary syndromes (n=115). A greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was observed in women. Nonculprit plaques in women with stable coronary artery disease were more likely to exhibit plaque erosion (8.6% versus 0.3%; P=0.03) and a smaller lipid arc (163.1±71.4° versus 211.2±71.2°; P=0.03), and less likely to harbor cholesterol crystals (17.2% versus 27.5%; P=0.01) and calcification (15.4% versus 34.4%; P=0.008), whereas fibrous cap thickness (105.2±62.1 versus 96.1±40.4 µm; P=0.57), the prevalence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (26.5% versus 25.2%; P=0.85), and microchannels (19.2% versus 20.5%; P=0.95) were comparable. In women with acute coronary syndrome, a smaller lipid arc (171.6±53.2° versus 235.8±86.4°; P=0.03), a higher frequency of plaque erosion (11.4% versus 0.6%; P=0.04), and a lower prevalence of cholesterol crystal (28.6% versus 38.2%; P=0.03) and calcification (10.0% versus 23.7%; P=0.01) were observed. These differences persisted after adjusting clinical demographics. Although thin-cap fibroatheromas in men clustered within proximal arterial segments, thin-cap fibroatheromas were evenly distributed in women. CONCLUSIONS: Despite more comorbid risk factors in women, their nonculprit plaques exhibited more plaque erosion, and less cholesterol and calcium content. This distinct phenotype suggests sex-related differences in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
Authors: Harmony R Reynolds; C Noel Bairey Merz; Colin Berry; Rohit Samuel; Jacqueline Saw; Nathaniel R Smilowitz; Ana Carolina do A H de Souza; Robert Sykes; Viviany R Taqueti; Janet Wei Journal: Circ Res Date: 2022-02-17 Impact factor: 17.367
Authors: Hongwei Ji; Alan C Kwan; Melanie T Chen; David Ouyang; Joseph E Ebinger; Susan P Bell; Teemu J Niiranen; Natalie A Bello; Susan Cheng Journal: Circ Res Date: 2022-02-17 Impact factor: 17.367
Authors: Yu Kataoka; Stephen J Nicholls; Jordan Andrews; Kiyoko Uno; Samir R Kapadia; E Murat Tuzcu; Steven E Nissen; Rishi Puri Journal: Cardiovasc Diagn Ther Date: 2022-02
Authors: Keva Garg; Toral R Patel; Arjun Kanwal; Todd C Villines; Niti R Aggarwal; Khurram Nasir; Roger S Blumenthal; Michael J Blaha; Pamela S Douglas; Leslee J Shaw; Garima Sharma Journal: J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr Date: 2021-10-08
Authors: Tomoyo Sugiyama; Erika Yamamoto; Krzysztof Bryniarski; Lei Xing; Hang Lee; Mitsuaki Isobe; Peter Libby; Ik-Kyung Jang Journal: JAMA Cardiol Date: 2018-03-01 Impact factor: 14.676
Authors: Michelle C Williams; Jacek Kwiecinski; Mhairi Doris; Priscilla McElhinney; Michelle S D'Souza; Sebastien Cadet; Philip D Adamson; Alastair J Moss; Shirjel Alam; Amanda Hunter; Anoop S V Shah; Nicholas L Mills; Tania Pawade; Chengjia Wang; Jonathan R Weir-McCall; Michael Bonnici-Mallia; Christopher Murrills; Giles Roditi; Edwin J R van Beek; Leslee J Shaw; Edward D Nicol; Daniel S Berman; Piotr J Slomka; David E Newby; Marc R Dweck; Damini Dey Journal: JACC Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2021-04-14
Authors: Mohammed El Mahdiui; Jeff M Smit; Alexander R van Rosendael; Danilo Neglia; Juhani Knuuti; Antti Saraste; Ronny R Buechel; Anna Teresinska; Maria N Pizzi; Albert Roque; Massimo Magnacca; Bart J Mertens; Chiara Caselli; Silvia Rocchiccioli; Oberdan Parodi; Gualtiero Pelosi; Arthur J Scholte Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 2.357