Association between apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio and coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: an intravascular optical coherence tomography study

Background Apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 and Apo B are strongly associated with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the relationship between the Apo B/A1 ratio and the morphology of coronary vulnerable plaques has not been fully elucidated in patients with ASCVD. Methods A total of 320 patients with ASCVD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled and assigned into acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) group. The morphology of culprit plaque was analyzed by intravascular optical coherence tomography. Association between the Apo B/A1 ratio and coronary vulnerable plaques were evaluated using logistic regression models and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Results The Apo B/A1 ratio was higher in ACS patients than CCS patients (0.77 ± 0.28 vs. 0.64 ± 0.22, P Conclusions The Apo B/A1 ratio is an independent predictor for plaque rupture, erosion, and thrombus in patients with ASCVD.