Cited 4 times since 2022 (1.4 per year) source: EuropePMC JACC. Asia, Volume 2, Issue 3, 12 2 2022, Pages 311-319 Longitudinal Quantitative Assessment of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Burden Related to Serum Hemoglobin Levels. Won KB, Lee BK, Heo R, Park HB, Lin FY, Hadamitzky M, Kim YJ, Sung JM, Conte E, Andreini D, Pontone G, Budoff MJ, Gottlieb I, Chun EJ, Cademartiri F, Maffei E, Marques H, de Araújo Gonçalves P, Leipsic JA, Lee SE, Shin S, Choi JH, Virmani R, Samady H, Chinnaiyan K, Berman DS, Narula J, Bax JJ, Min JK, Chang HJ
Background
Despite a potential role of hemoglobin in atherosclerosis, data on coronary plaque volume changes (PVC) related to serum hemoglobin levels are limited.
Objectives
The authors sought to evaluate coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden changes related to serum hemoglobin levels using serial coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).
Methods
A total of 830 subjects (age 61 ± 10 years, 51.9% male) who underwent serial CCTA were analyzed. The median interscan period was 3.2 (IQR: 2.5-4.4) years. Quantitative assessment of coronary plaques was performed at both scans. All participants were stratified into 4 groups based on the quartile of baseline hemoglobin levels. Annualized total PVC (mm3/year) was defined as total PVC divided by the interscan period.
Results
Baseline total plaque volume (mm3) was not different among all groups (group I [lowest]: 34.1 [IQR: 0.0-127.4] vs group II: 28.8 [IQR: 0.0-123.0] vs group III: 49.9 [IQR: 5.6-135.0] vs group IV [highest]: 34.3 [IQR: 0.0-130.7]; P = 0.235). During follow-up, serum hemoglobin level changes (Δ hemoglobin; per 1 g/dL) was related to annualized total PVC (β = -0.114) in overall participants (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, sex, traditional risk factors, baseline hemoglobin and creatinine levels, baseline total plaque volume, and the use of aspirin, beta-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, and statin, Δ hemoglobin significantly affected annualized total PVC in only the composite of groups I and II (β = -2.401; P = 0.004).
Conclusions
Serial CCTA findings suggest that Δ hemoglobin has an independent effect on coronary atherosclerosis. This effect might be influenced by baseline hemoglobin levels. (Progression of Atherosclerotic Plaque Determined by Computed Tomographic Angiography Imaging [PARADIGM]; NCT02803411).
