Angioscopy is a scientific, peer-reviewed journal of original articles that focus on cardiovascular imaging including angioscopy. Angioscopy is a journal designed for cardiovascular disease specialists and internists with a subspecialty in cardiovascular imaging throughout the world. Angioscopy is an official journal of the Japanese Association of Cardioangioscopy (JACA).
The categories of articles we accept are Review Articles, Original Articles, Brief Communications, Case Reports, and Imaging Sessions.
Angioscopy is an OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL!
No publication fee is required.
We welcome manuscript submissions in English from any country.
Please see our Guide for Authors for further information on article submission.
■Articles from the latest issue
Review Article
Consensus Standards for Acquisition, Measurement, and Reporting of Non-obstructive Aortic Angioscopy Studies: A Report from the Working Group of Japan Vascular Imaging Research Organization for Standardization of Non-obstructive Aortic Angioscopy (Version 2017)
Takafumi Hiro, Sei Komatsu, Hiroyuki Fujii, et al.
Abstract
Non-obstructive aortic angioscopy is an intravascular imaging modality applied to safely acquire real visible light-based detailed images of the inner surface of the aortic lumen in vivo on a real-time basis, which are not well detected by other imaging modalities including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound imaging.
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Application of this technique and usage in research and in clinical practice can be facilitated by the development of uniform standards of its methodology, interpretation, diagnosis, reporting, and terminology. The aim of this document is to make the output of the Working Group of Japan Vascular Imaging Research Organization for Standardization of Non-obstructive Aortic Angioscopy for the purpose of announcing the consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of non-obstructive aortic angioscopy studies as version 2017.
Review Article
Glucose Metabolism Disorder and Angioscopic Findings of Coronary Plaques
Osamu Kurihara, Masamichi Takano, Yasushi Miyauchi, et al.
Abstract
Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and certainly indicates various micro- and macro-vascular complications. Macro-vascular complications include ischemic coronary artery disease due to atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of mortality in diabetic patients.
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Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is considered as a specific marker of micro-vascular complications and is included in the criteria for diagnosis of diabetes. The ultimate goal of diabetes treatment is to inhibit the progression of systemic atherosclerosis and prevent fatal cardiovascular events like acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although diabetes involves both micro- and macro-vascular diseases, the relationship between DR and severity of coronary atherosclerosis, fundamental to ACS, is unclear. Moreover, the correlation of the degree of glucose metabolism disorder with coronary atherosclerosis remains unclear. The American Diabetes Association considers prediabetes as a high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular events in the future. However, coronary atherosclerosis in prediabetic patients has not been fully investigated.
Coronary angioscopy (CAS) is a useful intravascular imaging modality for assessing the characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques and its severity in vivo. Recently, CAS has shown the above relationships. Herein, we review the angioscopic findings and subsequent therapeutic implications in patients with glucose metabolism disorders.
Original Article
Stent Thrombosis and Intrastent Thrombus Formation in Patients Undergoing Elective PCI: Results of an Angioscopic Substudy of the Randomized Trial PRASFIT-Elective (PRASugrel for Japanese PatIenTs with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Elective PCI)
Takafumi Ueno, Kyoichi Mizuno, Atsushi Hirayama, et al.
Abstract
Background: Angioscopy was performed in a group of patients in the PRASugrel For Japanese PatIenTs with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Elective PCI (PRASFIT-Elective) study to determine the incidence and clinical features of stent thrombosis. Stent thrombosis is an infrequent, but potentially severe event that may require revascularization or lead to other clinically significant events. Its incidence and clinical features in Japanese patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are poorly understood, especially in those receiving dual antiplatelet therapy with prasugrel or clopidogrel in combination with aspirin.
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Methods: Coronary angioscopy was performed before and at 36 weeks after elective PCI in 19 and 14 patients treated with prasugrel and clopidogrel, respectively, across eight participating institutions. Coronary angioscopic images were adjudicated by independent staff at a central laboratory to assess intrastent thrombus, neointimal coverage, and plaque color.
Results: The proportion of stents with a red thrombus decreased from 57.9% (11/19) to 21.1% (4/19) in the prasugrel group (P = 0.0082) and from 50.0% (7/14) to 35.7% (5/14) in the clopidogrel group (P = 0.3173) at stenting to the follow-up visit. Platelet reactivity at 4 weeks was similar between patients with or without a red intrastent thrombus. Stent coverage was classified as Grade 1 in most of the patients, and the yellow plaque classification was Grade 0–2 in most of the patients.
Conclusions: Prasugrel and clopidogrel were associated with low rates of red thrombus after 36 weeks of dual-antiplatelet therapy after PCI. Stent coverage and yellow plaque classification were similar in prasugrel- and clopidogrel-treated patients.
