Deferral of PCI in FFR-Abnormal Lesions with Preserved Coronary Flow Reserve Is Not Associated with Similar Outcomes as Untreated Lesions with Normal FFR

NEW YORK – October 16, 2020 – A new observational study of deferred lesions following combined fractional flow reserve (FFR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) assessments found that untreated vessels with abnormal FFR but intact CFR do not have non-inferior outcomes compared to those with an FFR greater than 0.8 and a CFR greater than or equal to two when treated medically.

Findings were reported today at TCT Connect, the 32^nd annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). TCT is the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

The role for invasive CFR assessment in the current era remains unclear since FFR has become a reference standard guiding decisions for revascularization. While observational data from invasive and noninvasive tools has indicated that lesions with intact CFR do well, few of these studies simultaneously assessed FFR. To address the limitations of the current literature, researchers designed and carried out the DEFINE-FLOW study.

A total of 455 patients were enrolled from 12 sites in six countries. Of those enrolled, 430 patients (533 lesions) were protocol-treated and followed for two years. Stable coronary lesions underwent simultaneous FFR and CFR measurement in at least duplicate with central core lab review of the tracings. Treatment followed the local measurements according to a uniform protocol whereby only lesions with both FFR≤0.8 and CFR<2.0 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All other combinations, including FFR≤0.8 but intact CFR>2.0, received initial medical therapy.

The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization at two years. The study findings for MACE were 5.8% for FFR-/CFR-, 10.8% for FFR+/CFR-, 12.4% for FFR-/CFR+, and 14.4% for FFR+/CFR+ (after PCI). The difference of FFR+/CFR- compared to FFR-/CFR- was 5.0% (95%CI -1.5% to +11.5%, p-value 0.065 for non-inferiority). Therefore, the study found that vessels with abnormal FFR≤0.8 but intact CFR≥2.0 did not have non-inferior outcomes compared to FFR>0.8 and CFR≥2.0 when treated medically.

“Because the study was observational, it is not clear what the outcomes among FFR+/CFR- lesions would have been had they undergone PCI instead of medical therapy,” said Nils Johnson, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Weatherhead Distinguished Chair of Heart Disease, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and the Weatherhead PET Imaging Center at McGovern Medical School at UT Health (Houston) and Memorial Hermann Hospital – Texas Medical Center. “There were a number of limitations to this study such as few lesions with severe FFR/CFR as well as unblinded subjects and physicians. The limitations coupled with the results makes this a hypothesis-generating study that can help to further understand the role of invasive CFR and how to treat CFR/FFR discordance.”

The DEFINE-FLOW trial was funded by Philips (previously Volcano Corporation). Dr. Johnson reported the following disclosures: grant/research support to institution from St Jude Medical and Volcano/Philips; licensing and associated consulting to institution from Boston Scientific; and support for educational meetings/training from various academic and industry organizations (honoraria donated to institution.)  

About CRF

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations specializing in interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. CRF is dedicated to helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease. For nearly 30 years, CRF has helped pioneer medical advances and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease. CRF is comprised of the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Now in its 32^nd year, TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research in the field.

For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.

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