Multislice computed tomography in the evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis dynamics: data three-year observation in patients with myocardial infarction-segment elevation ST and stenting of coronary arteries

The aim – to use multislice computed tomography (MSCT)-coronary angiography data to determine the presence of atherosclerotic process progression in coronary vessels in the dynamics of the three-year follow-up period in patients after STEMI and coronary artery stenting.Materials and methods. 66 MSCT-coronary angiography studies were performed in 19 men after primary myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) and coronary artery stenting. All patients were male, ranging in age from 38 to 66 years, with a mean (Me 55.6; (Q1–Q3 (49–64)) years, and 18 of 19 (94.0 %) patients developed Q-MI. 1 patient (6 %) had non-Q-MI. A month after acute MI, patients underwent MSCT of the heart with coronary vascular contrast. Re-examination was performed one, two and three years after the development of STEMI. According to the results of MSCT coronary angiography determined the functional status of stents, as well as the presence or exclusion of signs of restenosis (about 50 % or more) or thrombosis 100 % – occlusion) in the stent coronary artery and in non-infarction-causing arteries. With the progression of atherosclerotic plaque, an increase in atherosclerotic plaque of more than 20 % was taken into account compared to the previous study.Results and discussion. By the end of the first year after MI in 11 of 19 (57.9 %) patients according to MSCT-coronary angiography, no progression of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries was observed. 1 patient (5.6 %) had stent restenosis, which was confirmed by CAG data. Progression of atherosclerotic lesions was observed in 7 patients (36.8 %), 3 of them (16.6 %) in the stent artery, and in 4 patients in the non-infarction-causing artery. In the second year after myocardial infarction, compared with the annual examination, in 6 of 14 (42.9 %) no progression of atherosclerosis was observed, and in 7 of 14 (50 %) progression of atherosclerotic lesions not in the stent artery, and only in 1 of 14 – progression of atherosclerosis in the stent artery. In the third year after the development of MI, 10 of 14 (71.4 %) had no progression of atherosclerosis, and 4 patients showed progression in both IOA and other arteries.Conclusions. MSCT coronary angiography is an informative method in assessing the functional status of stents and determining the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in the infarct-causing artery and other coronary arteries in patients after MI and coronary artery stenting in the dynamics of three-year follow-up. The lack of progression of atherosclerosis was accompanied by slightly lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, compared with patients with progression of atherosclerosis.