Reproducibility of optical coherence tomography in vein grafts used for coronary revascularization.
BACKGROUND
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution imaging modality able to provide near-histological images of vessel walls making it possible to distinguish intima and media layers of the vessel wall separately. The use of this imaging technique is increasing while data on the variability and reliability is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the reproducibility of frequency-domain OCT in vein grafts used for coronary revascularization.


METHODS
Five pullbacks were analyzed by the same analyst with a 1-month delay (intraobserver) and by two different analysts (interobserver). Five pairs of pullbacks from the same catheters and vein graft were also analyzed (inter pullback).


RESULTS
Optical coherence tomography showed low variability in intra- and interobserver analysis with relative differences of mean media and intima thicknesses and areas of less than 5% for most parameters. Relative differences of the same parameters in the inter pullback analysis were in the 5-15% range. Intra- and interobserver reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] > 0.90) for intima thickness and intima, media and intima-media area measurements. Inter pullback reliability was good (ICC: 0.75-0.90) for intima and intima-media area measurements, and moderate to good for mean intima thickness measurements (ICC: 0.79; 0.7338-0.8284).


CONCLUSIONS
Optical coherence tomography provides good reproducibility for the measurements of parameters relevant for the development of atherosclerosis in vein grafts.


CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ID NCT01834846.
['Pettersen|Øystein|Ø|', 'Pociask|Elżbieta|E|', 'Malinowski|Krzysztof P|KP|', 'Slezak|Magdalena|M|', 'Hegbom|Knut|K|', 'Wiseth|Rune|R|', 'Nordhaug|Dag Ole|DO|']
D006801:Humans D015588:Observer Variation D015203:Reproducibility of Results D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
coronary artery disease intimal hyperplasia saphenous vein graft