Cholesterol crystals (CCs) are frequently found in high-risk plaques, such as thin-capped fibroatheromas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of CCs, plaque morphologies, and post-stent optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) findings with periprocedural cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study consists of 119 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with normal cTn levels who underwent OFDI-guided PCI. Periprocedural cTn elevation was defined as an elevation of cTn ≥ × 5 times the upper reference limit after PCI. Pre- and post-stent OFDI findings, including fibrous cap thickness (FCT), presence of CCs, and parameters for lipid and calcification were analyzed. A total of 37 (31%) patients were classified into the periprocedural cTn elevation group. Compared with lesions without CCs, lesions exhibiting CCs had thinner FCT, larger lipid arc, and longer lipid length, and were more likely to have irregular protrusion and in-stent thrombus (all p < 0.05). For pre-stent OFDI features, FCT < 82 µm [odds ratio (OR) 4.11; p = 0.003] and CCs (OR 3.23; p = 0.017) were associated with periprocedural cTn elevation. For post-stent OFDI features, in-stent dissection (OR 3.08; p = 0.035) and in-stent thrombus (OR 7.98; p = 0.002) were independent predictors of cTn elevation. The combination of CCs and FCT < 82 µm showed increased risk of periprocedural cTn elevation (OR 7.22; p = 0.002). OFDI-guided PCI provides unique insight into the mechanism for periprocedural cTn elevation in CAD patients.
Keywords: Cardiac troponin; Cholesterol crystal; Myocardial infarction; Optical frequency domain imaging; Percutaneous coronary intervention.