ð¥ å
§ç§å°ç§èåç
Mechanistic Deep Dive
Plaque Biology
- Lipid-rich necrotic core, thin fibrous cap (< 65 ÎŒm = vulnerable)
- Macrophage MMP secretion â cap thinning
- Inflammation drives rupture
- CANTOS trial 2017 â canakinumab (anti-IL-1β) â MACE
- LoDoCo2 2020 â colchicine 0.5 mg daily â MACE in CCS
- 2024 AHA/ACC: low-dose colchicine considered for high-risk patients
Microvascular Dysfunction
- Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation (NO pathway)
- Smooth muscle hyper-reactivity
- Inflammation + oxidative stress
- Treat: statin, ACEi, smoking cessation, exercise
Novel Imaging
- OCT (optical coherence tomography) â intracoronary, 10x resolution of IVUS, identifies thin-cap fibroatheroma
- NIRS-IVUS â lipid core burden index (LCBI), predicts MACE
- Coronary FDG-PET â plaque inflammation
- Coronary CT FFR â non-invasive FFR
Recent Trials & Updates
ORBITA-2 (2023)
- 301 patients, single-vessel stable angina, on placebo run-in (no anti-anginal)
- PCI vs sham PCI
- Primary endpoint: angina symptom score (Cantonberry questionnaire)
- Result: PCI significantly better symptom score (2.21 vs 5.18, p < 0.001)
- Resolves prior ORBITA controversy when patients were heavily medicated
ISCHEMIA-EXTEND (2023)
- 7-year follow-up of ISCHEMIA
- Cardiovascular mortality lower with invasive (in some subgroups)
- All-cause mortality unchanged
- Confirms anti-anginal benefit but mortality benefit uncertain
REVIVED-BCIS2 (2022)
- PCI vs OMT for ischemic cardiomyopathy (EF †35%)
- No benefit of PCI on death/HF hospitalization
- Challenges old paradigm of revascularization in HFrEF
LoDoCo2 (2020) + COLCOT (2019)
- Low-dose colchicine (0.5 mg/d) reduces MACE in CCS + post-MI
- AHA/ACC 2023 Class IIa for high-risk CCS
Lipoprotein(a)
- Genetic, independent CAD risk factor
- Test once in lifetime per 2024 NLA/ESC guidance
- Pelacarsen (siRNA), muvalaplin in trials
- High Lp(a) ⥠50 mg/dL or ⥠125 nmol/L â intensify other risk factors
COMPASS (2017)
- Rivaroxaban 2.5 mg BID + ASA 100 mg vs ASA alone in stable CAD/PAD
- â MACE 24%, â bleeding 70%
- Net clinical benefit favorable
- AHA/ACC 2023 Class IIa for high-risk CCS
High-Yield Specialist Points
Special Populations
- DM: BP < 130/80, HbA1c individualized (typically < 7%), SGLT2i + GLP-1 RA
- CKD: ACEi/ARB; avoid contrast if possible; consider periprocedural hydration
- Elderly: lower revascularization threshold, focus on QOL
- Women: microvascular more common, INOCA workup
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
- Young/middle-age women
- Fibromuscular dysplasia association
- Pregnancy / postpartum
- Conservative management preferred (not PCI unless STEMI or hemodynamic instability)
- Avoid stress testing or anticoagulants
Coronary Spasm
- Acetylcholine challenge in cath lab is gold standard
- Often co-exists with microvascular angina (mixed phenotypes)
- ROCK inhibitors investigational
MINOCA (MI with Non-obstructive Coronary Arteries)
- ~ 5-10% of MI
- Causes: SCAD, vasospasm, embolism, supply-demand mismatch, myocarditis, takotsubo
- CMR is key for differential diagnosis
- Tailor treatment to cause
Pearls
- Stable CCS now formal name â replaces âstable IHDâ (2019 ESC, 2024 update)
- CCTA-first strategy is now mainstream (2024 NICE/ESC)
- ISCHEMIA + ORBITA-2 define modern role of PCI: symptom-driven, not prognosis-driven
- Lp(a) test once in lifetime â emerging therapies coming
- LoDoCo2 / COMPASS / SGLT2i / GLP-1 â newer secondary prevention building blocks