Impact of regional functional ischemia on global coronary flow reserve in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

Global coronary flow reserve (g-CFR) provides powerful prognostic information. The relationship between g-CFR and the regional physiological indices of fractional flow reserve (FFR), coronary flow reserve (r-CFR), and the index of microcirculatory resistance remains undetermined. This study aimed to assess the relationship between regional and global physiological indices and determinants of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)-derived g-CFR.

METHODS

A total of 151 patients with single de novo intermediate to stenotic epicardial lesions referred for diagnostic invasive coronary angiography who underwent phase-contrast cine CMR of the coronary sinus (CS) were included. g-CFR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic and resting CS flow (CSF). Regional and global physiological parameters were compared, and determinants of g-CFR were assessed.

RESULTS

There was a weak linear relationship between FFR and g-CFR (R=0.04, p=0.013), while r-CFR and g-CFR, or combinations of the other regional-global indices were not significantly correlated. When patients were divided into two groups by FFR of 0.80, there were also no significant differences in global physiological indices between the groups (FFR≤0.80 vs. FFR>0.80; g-CFR: 2.73 vs. 2.61, p=0.48; hyperemic CSF: 3.32 vs. 3.52ml/min/g, p=0.84). Higher high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-I (hs-cTnI) and higher resting CS flow were independently associated with impaired g-CFR, and the combination could efficiently identify patients with g-CFR<2.0.

CONCLUSIONS

Given weak relationship among global and regional physiological indices, these indices may provide complementary efficacy for prognostication in patients with single-vessel stable coronary artery disease. Combination of hs-cTnI and resting CS flow could estimate g-CFR without pharmacological hyperemic induction.