High-intensity signal in T1-weighted imaging as a novel marker of intra coronary thrombus and intraplaque hemorrhage

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22882
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0902:General internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022); Osaka City University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: MATSUMOTO KENJI 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 研究員 (60597558)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 急性冠症候群 / MRI / プラーク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the relationship of the ratio between the signal intensities of coronary plaque and cardiac muscle (PMR) on non-contrast T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) in magnetic resonance with intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) in the directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) specimens. PMR showed a strong positive correlation with glycophorin A scores (p <0.001). The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal PMR cutoff value for predicting glycophorin A scores >grade 2 (glycophorin A-positive area >5% of the plaque) was 1.2 (area under the curve; 0.91, 95% confidence interval; 0.73-1.00), and this PMR value had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 86%.

Free Research Field

循環器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果より、症候性および無症候性の冠動脈内血栓およびプラーク内出血を非侵襲的に評価できる唯一のモダリティとしての冠動脈MRIの意義が確立した。急性冠症候群の予知や予防戦略は今なお世界的な急務であり、本研究成果をもとに今後MRIにおけるT1信号値をマーカーとした研究の発展が期待される。