Characterization of lipidic coronary atheroma under control of low-density lipoprotein <1.8 mmol/l and lipoprotein (a) <50 mg/dl in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract Background Lp(a) has been considered as a potential therapeutic target associated with atherosclerosis. In particular, Lp(a) ≧50 mg/dL has been shown to predict an elevated cardiovascular risk even under lowering LDL-C level, indicating that lowering of both LDL-C and Lp(a) may be more beneficial to halt atherogenesis. However, atherosclerotic features with favorable control of these lipid targets have not been fully characterized yet. The REASSURE-NIRS registry (NCT04864171) is an on-going multi-center registry which enrolls CAD patients receiving near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)/IVUS-guided PCI in Japan. Given that NIRS enables to quantitatively evaluate lipidic plaque materials, this registry provides an opportunity to investigate lipidic plaque features in association with LDL-C and Lp(a) levels. Objectives The aim of this study was to elucidate NIRS-derived characteristics of coronary atheroma in patients with CAD who exhibited both LDL-C