Prediction of fractional flow reserve with angiographic DILEMMA score

Objective: Angiographic assessment of stenosis has limited predictive value for functionally significant lesions compared with fractional flow reserve (FFR). The recently developed angiographic DILEMMA score, which consists of minimal lumen diameter (MLD), lesion length (LL) and Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) Myocardial Jeopardy Index (MJI) was found to have diagnostic value in predicting FFR <= 0.80. The present study was an investigation of prediction of FFR <= 0.80 using DILEMMA score and its relationship to resting distal coronary artery pressure/aortic pressure (Pd/Pa). Methods: Records of consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography and FFR were retrospectively analyzed. Assessment of MLD and LL was performed using quantitative coronary angiography. BARI MJI was calculated using angiographic calculation index. Results: A total of 185 pressure wire analysis data sets from 150 patients were analyzed retrospectively. There were 82 lesions in FFR >0.80 group and 103 lesions in FFR <= 0.80 group. Negative correlation was found between FFR and DILEMMA score (r=-0.494; p<0.001), FFR and BARI-MJI (r=0.378; p<0.001), and between FFR and LL (r=-0.314; p<0.001). Positive correlation was found between FFR and baseline Pd/Pa (r=0.713; p<0.001), and between FFR and MLD (r=0.415; p<0.001). DILEMMA score had negative correlation with resting Pd/Pa (r=-0.389; p<0.001). In receiver opera-ting characteristic analysis for diagnosing FFR <= 0.80, area under curve values of resting Pd/Pa, DILEMMA score, MLD, BARI-MJI, and LL were 0.862, 0.793, 0.780, 0.728, and 0.686, respectively. Conclusion: DILEMMA score had moderately strong correlation with FFR and good accuracy in diagnosing significant FFR, but it had weak correlation with resting Pd/Pa.