Predicting heart attack in a patient post- -radiation therapy using plaque CCT A analysis and serum biomarker test. Case report Case report

Abstract

Accelerated coronary artery disease (CAD) is a long term manifestation of chest irradiation that may progress to acute myocardial infarction (MI). We report the use of an algorithm-based biomarker test and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to identify accelerated CAD in a patient treated with chest irradiation and combination chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Using a seven protein biomarker test with four incorporated clinical factors, we identified the patient had a 6 fold higher risk for future MI than expected for individuals at his age. Using CCTA, we characterized his plaques based on the following parameters: percent diameter stenosis (ranging from 30–70), percent area stenosis, percent necrotic core (NC), percent fibrotic core (FC), percent calcium core (CC), FC thickness, percent vessel wall to lumen, and NC to FC ratio. We identified a plaque in his left circumflex (LCX) with moderate percent diameter stenosis, high percent NC, low percent FC, absent FC thickness, high percent vessel wall to lumen ratio, and high NC to FC ratio as the most vulnerable to rupture and cause MI. The patient was educated about his risk of a future MI and started on maximum medical therapy. Nevertheless, he experienced a ST elevation MI (STEMI) in 185 days with occlusion at the vulnerable plaque site of his LCX. The recognition of a vulnerable plaque in a vulnerable patient may necessitate prophylactic stenting in vessels without severe obstruction. The serum biomarker test and CCTA plaque analysis may detect these patients in need of aggressive therapy.