Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome

Background Disrupted atherosclerotic plaques in the left anterior descending coronary artery are discussed controversially as a potential pathophysiological mechanism in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess plaque burden and morphology by using optical cohe...

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Main Authors: Ingo Eitel, Thomas Stiermaier, Tobias Graf, Christian Möller, Karl‐Philipp Rommel, Charlotte Eitel, Gerhard Schuler, Holger Thiele, Steffen Desch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-12-01
Series:Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
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Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.116.004474
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author Ingo Eitel
Thomas Stiermaier
Tobias Graf
Christian Möller
Karl‐Philipp Rommel
Charlotte Eitel
Gerhard Schuler
Holger Thiele
Steffen Desch
author_facet Ingo Eitel
Thomas Stiermaier
Tobias Graf
Christian Möller
Karl‐Philipp Rommel
Charlotte Eitel
Gerhard Schuler
Holger Thiele
Steffen Desch
author_sort Ingo Eitel
collection DOAJ
description Background Disrupted atherosclerotic plaques in the left anterior descending coronary artery are discussed controversially as a potential pathophysiological mechanism in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess plaque burden and morphology by using optical coherence tomography in patients with TTS. Methods and Results A total of 23 consecutive TTS patients were included in this single‐center study and underwent optical coherence tomography imaging of the left main coronary artery and the left anterior descending coronary artery at acute presentation. All patients fulfilled the established diagnostic criteria for TTS and the diagnosis was confirmed with a multimodality imaging approach including cardiac magnetic resonance in 16 patients (69.6%). Atherosclerotic plaques located in the left anterior descending coronary artery or both the left anterior descending coronary artery and the left main coronary artery were detected in 16 TTS patients (69.6%), with 6 patients exhibiting multiple plaque types. In addition to the predominant fibrocalcific (52.2%) and lipid‐rich plaques (30.4%), thin‐cap fibroatheromas were also found in 6 patients (26.1%). However, ruptured plaques or intracoronary thrombi were not observed. Vessel stenosis >50% was found in 3 patients (13.0%) by analyzing cross‐sectional areas. Clinical characteristics and cardiac magnetic resonance findings did not differ significantly between TTS patients with and without atherosclerotic plaques. Conclusions Using optical coherence tomography, the present study revealed a high prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with TTS, including a considerable number of highly vulnerable thin‐cap fibroatheromas. However, ruptured plaques or intracoronary thrombi were not observed and are therefore most likely not the underlying mechanism of TTS.
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spelling doaj-art-b496cc92e13e49b3b3c22f0d8abd806e2025-08-20T03:29:09ZengWileyJournal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease2047-99802016-12-0151210.1161/JAHA.116.004474Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo SyndromeIngo Eitel0Thomas Stiermaier1Tobias Graf2Christian Möller3Karl‐Philipp Rommel4Charlotte Eitel5Gerhard Schuler6Holger Thiele7Steffen Desch8Medical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyMedical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyMedical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyMedical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine–Cardiology University of Leipzig–Heart Center Leipzig GermanyMedical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine–Cardiology University of Leipzig–Heart Center Leipzig GermanyMedical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyMedical Clinic II (Cardiology/Angiology/Intensive Care Medicine) University Heart Center Lübeck University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein Lübeck GermanyBackground Disrupted atherosclerotic plaques in the left anterior descending coronary artery are discussed controversially as a potential pathophysiological mechanism in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess plaque burden and morphology by using optical coherence tomography in patients with TTS. Methods and Results A total of 23 consecutive TTS patients were included in this single‐center study and underwent optical coherence tomography imaging of the left main coronary artery and the left anterior descending coronary artery at acute presentation. All patients fulfilled the established diagnostic criteria for TTS and the diagnosis was confirmed with a multimodality imaging approach including cardiac magnetic resonance in 16 patients (69.6%). Atherosclerotic plaques located in the left anterior descending coronary artery or both the left anterior descending coronary artery and the left main coronary artery were detected in 16 TTS patients (69.6%), with 6 patients exhibiting multiple plaque types. In addition to the predominant fibrocalcific (52.2%) and lipid‐rich plaques (30.4%), thin‐cap fibroatheromas were also found in 6 patients (26.1%). However, ruptured plaques or intracoronary thrombi were not observed. Vessel stenosis >50% was found in 3 patients (13.0%) by analyzing cross‐sectional areas. Clinical characteristics and cardiac magnetic resonance findings did not differ significantly between TTS patients with and without atherosclerotic plaques. Conclusions Using optical coherence tomography, the present study revealed a high prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with TTS, including a considerable number of highly vulnerable thin‐cap fibroatheromas. However, ruptured plaques or intracoronary thrombi were not observed and are therefore most likely not the underlying mechanism of TTS.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.116.004474OCTpathophysiologyplaquestress‐induced cardiomyopathyTakotsubo syndrome
spellingShingle Ingo Eitel
Thomas Stiermaier
Tobias Graf
Christian Möller
Karl‐Philipp Rommel
Charlotte Eitel
Gerhard Schuler
Holger Thiele
Steffen Desch
Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
OCT
pathophysiology
plaque
stress‐induced cardiomyopathy
Takotsubo syndrome
title Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
title_full Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
title_fullStr Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
title_short Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plaque Burden and Morphology in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome
title_sort optical coherence tomography to evaluate plaque burden and morphology in patients with takotsubo syndrome
topic OCT
pathophysiology
plaque
stress‐induced cardiomyopathy
Takotsubo syndrome
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.116.004474
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