A review of serial coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) to assess plaque progression and therapeutic effect of anti-atherosclerotic drugs

• Authors: Jana Taron, Harvard Medical School; Saeyun Lee, Emory University; John Aluru, Harvard Medical School; Udo Hoffmann, Harvard Medical School; Michael T Lu, Harvard Medical School
• Journal Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
• Volume: Volume 36, Number 12
• Publisher: SPRINGER | 2020-02-19, Pages 2305-2317
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-020-01793-w
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Radiology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; Serial computed tomography angiography; Coronary artery plaque; Anti-atherosclerotic drugs; INHIBITOR VIA-2291 ATRELEUTON; LIPID-LOWERING THERAPY; LOW-ATTENUATION PLAQUE; ACUTE CHEST-PAIN; ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE; INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND; HIGH-RISK; ARTERY-DISEASE; STATIN THERAPY; DIAGNOSTIC-ACCURACY

Abstract

Change in coronary artery plaque on serial catheter intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is an established technique to monitor the therapeutic effect of drugs on coronary atherosclerosis. Recent advances in coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) now allow for non-invasive assessment of change in coronary plaque. Because coronary CTA is noninvasive, it enables clinical trials with lower-risk populations, higher retention rates, and lower costs. This review presents an overview of serial coronary CTA as a noninvasive imaging technique to gauge the therapeutic effect of anti-atherosclerotic therapies. Furthermore, it reviews the increasing use of serial CTA as an imaging endpoint in completed and ongoing clinical trials.