iWONDER (Imaging WhOle vessel coronary tree with intravascular ultrasounD and iMap® in patiEnts with acute myocaRdial infarction) Study: Rationale and Study Design

ABSTRACT Background Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides a sensitive and reproducible measurement of the coronary artery dimensions, atherosclerotic plaque, and arterial lumen. Advances in IVUS technology now allow for the characterisation of the composition and morphology of atherosclerotic plaques. Although previous studies have reported data using IVUS with radiofrequency analysis, little is known regarding the use of a new modality (iMap®, Boston Scientific – Santa Clara, CA, USA) of atherosclerotic plaque characterisation. This study aims to analyse the morphological, phenotypic, and tissue characteristics of ‘culprit’ and ‘non-culprit’ atherosclerotic plaques determined by angiography in patients undergoing coronary angiography due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods This will be a prospective, cross-sectional, single centre study (Hospital Sao Paulo – Escola Paulista de Medicina – Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo/UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil). Fifty patients will be selected for the ultrasound analysis according to the following inclusion criteria: age  Conclusions This study aims to obtain the morphological, phenotypical, and tissue characteristics of the atherosclerotic plaque using an imaging modality that has not been extensively evaluated in patients with AMI.