Association between coronary monosodium urate deposits at DECT and high-risk coronary plaque phenotypes and other features in gout patients

Abstract

Background: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) detects monosodium urate (MSU) deposits in joints. However, the correlation between coronary atherosclerosis phenotypes and MSU-positive lesions in the cardiovascular system remains unclear. We investigated the correlation between coronary MSU-positive plaques on unenhanced DECT with the coronary atherosclerosis profile at coronary CT angiography. Methods: One hundred fifty rheumatologic patients were prospectively enrolled. Sixty of them underwent unenhanced DECT and 128-row DECT coronary angiography. Analysis included CAD-RADS stenosis severity, high-risk plaque (HRP) phenotypes, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. Results: Of 60 patients, with a mean age of 63.7 years, including 7 females (11.7%), 37 had gout (61.7%), 9 had hyperuricemia (15%), and 14 had other rheumatologic diseases (23.3%). At DECT, 11 (18.3%) had coronary MSU-positive lesions totaling 24 lesions (left anterior descending, 12; right coronary artery, 10; circumflex, 1; left main, 1). HRP phenotypes were identified in 14 of 60 patients (23.3%). The prevalence of HRP was higher in MSU-positive than MSU-negative patients (63.3% versus 14.2%; p = 0.003; odds ratio 9.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.30–48.41). CAD-RADS and CAC scores correlated with the number of MSU-positive lesions (ρ = 0.412; 95% CI: 0.167–0.609; p < 0.001) and ρ = 0.412; 95% CI: 0.169–0.609; p < 0.001). None of the major cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes) was associated with MSU-positive lesions. Conclusion: We found an association between coronary MSU-positive lesions and HRP-phenotypes, as well as a correlation with stenosis severity and calcium burden. MSU-positive lesions may serve as an unenhanced DECT-derived biomarker of increased cardiovascular risk. Relevance statement: The detection of coronary MSU-positive lesions by DECT could indicate an increased likelihood of HRP phenotypes. These findings suggest their potential as imaging biomarkers for cardiovascular risk, using unenhanced spectral DECT scans or photon-counting CT. Key Points: Identifying gout patients with increased cardiovascular risk remains challenging. Coronary MSU-positive lesions detected on unenhanced DECT may be associated with HRP features on coronary computed tomography angiography. MSU-positive lesions could serve as biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in gout patients.