All participants in the current serial coronary CTA study underwent ≥ 64 slice coronary CTA at baseline (Lightspeed VCT, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI; Somatom Sensation and Definition CT, Siemens, Forchheim, Germany; Aquilion One, Toshiba, Otawara, Japan) and follow-up (Lightspeed VCT or REVOLUSION, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI; Somatom Sensation and Definition CT, Siemens, Forchheim, Germany; Aquilion One, Toshiba, Otawara, Japan) and non-contrast CT for coronary artery calcium (CAC). If required, an oral and/or intravenous beta-blocker or a calcium channel blocker was administered in order to reach a target heart rate <65 beats/minute. Sublingual nitroglycerin was also administrated prior to IV contrast injection, unless contraindicated.
Scan parameters for non-contrast CT are obtained as follows: prospective electrocardiogram-triggering, 512×512 matrix size, and peak tube voltage of 120 kVp. The contrast cardiac CTA scanning protocols have been previously reported 1 (link), 12 (link). Scanning parameters included: < 1mm slice thickness, ≤ 20mm field of view, 512×512 matrix size, and tube voltage of 120, 100 or 80 kVp (100 or 80 kVp used in participants with a body mass index <25kg/m2). Prospective or retrospective electrocardiogram-triggering is employed.
Scan parameters for non-contrast CT are obtained as follows: prospective electrocardiogram-triggering, 512×512 matrix size, and peak tube voltage of 120 kVp. The contrast cardiac CTA scanning protocols have been previously reported 1 (link), 12 (link). Scanning parameters included: < 1mm slice thickness, ≤ 20mm field of view, 512×512 matrix size, and tube voltage of 120, 100 or 80 kVp (100 or 80 kVp used in participants with a body mass index <25kg/m2). Prospective or retrospective electrocardiogram-triggering is employed.