Objective: In this multicentre study, we investigated the long-term prognostic value of intracoronary derived haemodynamic parameters compared with the results of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS).
Methods: Patients (n=191) who were referred for angioplasty of a severe lesion in the presence of an intermediate lesion in another coronary artery were included. MPS was performed to determine the presence of reversible perfusion defects in the area of the intermediate lesion. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), and additionally fractional flow reserve (FFR; n=129), were determined distal to the intermediate lesion; CFVR >/=2.0 and FFR >/=0.75 were considered negative.
Results: In total 67 events occurred in 49 patients (3 deaths, 9 MI, 9 CABG, 46 PTCA) during a mean of 793 days follow-up. Event-free survival was 63% for MPS, 79% for CFVR, and 79% for FFR if a negative test result was obtained. The relative risk was 1.2 (not significant) for MPS, 2.2 (p=0.001) for CFVR, and 2.4 (p=0.004) for FFR.
Conclusion: Selective evaluation of an intermediate lesion using CFVR or FFR allows more adequate risk stratification in patients with multivessel disease than MPS. A CFVR <2.0 or a FFR <0.75 was associated with a significant increase of the occurrence of cardiac events during long-term follow-up, predominantly associated with revascularisation. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:369-74.).
Keywords: angioplasty; coronary artery disease; coronary flow velocity reserve; fractional flow reserve; myocardial perfusion scintigraphy; risk stratification.