Background:
Despite its well-known limitations, invasive coronary angiography remains the most used, and often times the only method used to define treatment strategies in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Measurement of coronary fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been used in several studies in patients for whom an interventional the rapy strategy was determined based on angiography. However, this method has not been tested in the opposite scenario, in which the angiographic evaluation does not indicate the need for interventions. The purpose of this pilot study, to be performed in two sites, is to test the hypothesis that for intermediate injuries, in which angiography does not indicate the need for coronary intervention, measurement of FFR might change the therapeutic approach based on angiography.
Methods:
Consecutive clinically stable patients, with coronary disease in the proximal or middle segment of one or more epicardial vessels (diameter > 2.5 mm), with injuries between 40 and 70% by visual estimation will be enrolled in this trial. The treatment approach (clinical or interventional) based on angiography will be defined independently and by consensus of two observers. Thereafter, patients in both groups will be randomized into two subgroups: (1) maintenance of the angiography-based therapeutic strategy; and (2) use of FFR to define therapeutic strategy. Patients with FFR < 0.80 will be treated by percutaneous or surgical revascularization, whereas patients with FFR ≥ 0.80 will be treated clinically.
Conclusions:
The present study is aimed at evaluating whether FFR measurement in intermediate lesions in which an interventional therapy is not indicated by angiography results in change of conduct.
Coronary artery disease; Cardiac catheterization; Fractional flow reserve, myocardial; Coronary angiography; Percutaneous coronary intervention
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