Clinical and imaging predictors of impaired myocardial perfusion in symptomatic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from dynamic CT myocardial perfusion imaging

Background We aimed to investigate the relationship between baseline clinical characteristics and postprocedural myocardial perfusion as determined by dynamic computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI). Methods We retrospectively included consecutive symptomatic post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients, who underwent dynamic CT-MPI + coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and who were revealed to have patent stents on previously revascularized lesions. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was measured for stented territories and reference territories. Various baseline clinical and angiographic parameters were tested for the association with reduced MBF of stented territories. Results A total of 81 patients with 96 stented vessels were included in the analysis. The mean effective doses of radiation for the whole integrated CT protocol (calcium score + dynamic CT-MPI + CCTA) was 4.89±1.14 (2.58-6.93) mSv. Overall, 49 stented vessels had reduced MBF (75.3±17.2 mL/100 mL/min) within related territories, whereas 47 stented vessels had normal MBF (138.6±20.5 mL/100 mL/min). Peak levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and glucose were significantly higher, while preprocedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade was lower in participants with reduced MBF of stented territories. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) also predominantly presented in participants with decreased MBF after revascularization. According to multivariate analysis, peak hs-cTnI level was the strongest predictor [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 4.548, P=0.003] for decreased myocardial perfusion, followed by TIMI flow grade, AMI, stenotic extent, and NT-pro-BNP. Conclusions The baseline hs-cTnI peak level was the strongest predictor for decreased myocardial perfusion after revascularization, followed by AMI, stenotic extent, and NT-pro-BNP.