Predictors of Progressive Course of Multifocal Atherosclerosis in Patients With Myocardial Infarction

Purpose. Determination of clinical and instrumental predictors of progressive course of multifocal atherosclerosis (MFA) in patients one year after myocardial infarction (MI), initially having hemodynamically insignificant stenoses of carotid arteries.

Materials and methods. From database of patients with acute coronary syndrome treated in the Kemerovo Regional Clinical Cardiac Dispensary in 2009–2010 we selected for this study 141 patients with verified diagnosis of MI and hemodynamically insignificant lesions in the internal carotid artery (ICA) (stenosis up ≤ 55 %). All patients had coronary atherosclerosis verified on coronary angiography at admission because of MI. A multivariate analysis of possible predictors of the progressive course of multifocal atherosclerosis was made based on assessment of the development of cardiovascular complications (CVC) (death, MI, stroke and transient cerebral circulatory attacks [TIA]), as well as revascularizations and negative dynamics of parameters of color duplex scanning (CDS) of ICA during one year after MI. Results. One year after MI the overall incidence of CVC was 16.3 % (n=23). Structure of registered events was as follows: death from MI 7.1 % (n=10), deaths from stroke 2.1 % (n=3) and other causes 2.1 % (n=3), non-fatal MI 5.0 % (n=7), non-fatal stroke / TIA 2.1 % (n=3), carotid revascularization 2.8 % (n=4), coronary revascularization 14.9 % (n=21). CDC of ICAs was repeated in 125 patients. There were 17 (13.6 %) cases of progression of carotid atherosclerosis in the form of de novo bilateral stenoses in 14 (11.2 %) patients, stenoses in the left and right ICA 1 patient and 2 patients, respectively. The following predictors of progression of atherosclerosis of cerebral arteries were identified: family history of cardiovascular diseases (CVD),ICA stenosis ≥45 %, baseline circular atherosclerotic plaque (ASP). Predictors of high risk of stroke were family history of CVD, history of stroke,ICA stenosis ≥45 %, heterogeneous hypoechoic ASP. As predictors of lethal outcome, we identified history of MI, high functional class of angina preceding the index MI, severe coronary vascular bed involvement (SYNTAX score >23), presence of any bilateral atherosclerotic lesion in ICAs, and heterogeneous hypoechoic ASP. Assessment of the contribution of adherence to therapy in the prognosis 1 year after hospital discharge was fulfilled in 125 alive patients. It allowed to conclude that patients with progression of atherosclerosis and nonfatal CVC were characterized by insufficient adherence to standard therapy.

Conclusion. Predictors of the progressive course of multifocal atherosclerosis during one year after MI were identified in this study. It is necessary to strengthen therapeutic and preventive measures aimed at minimization of the impact of these factors in this category of patients.   

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