Radiomics-based analysis indicated that conventional risk factors, cocaine use, and HIV-infection each have different effects on changes in coronary atherosclerosis over time. Cocaine use was significantly associated with almost a quarter of the radiomics features. HIV infection, in contrast, was linked to only slightly more than 1% of radiomics features. The study also revealed that HIV infection had a more profound effect on coronary artery disease in younger individuals.
“Cocaine use plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease,” Dr. Lai said. “Cocaine users with HIV should abstain from cocaine use to lower the risk of coronary artery disease.”
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The results suggest that rather than having a complex interconnected network of factors contributing to the development of atherosclerosis, the effects of different risk factors may correspond to specific known or unknown pathways of disease progression. This information will likely provide a more complete picture of the state of cardiac health.
“We want to figure out why some people die early, why some die suddenly, and why some people go on and on even if they have very significant fixed disease,” Dr. Lai said. “With radiomics, we can use a CT image or an MR image, because these images have more data than just stenosis.”
Dr. Lai said the radiomics technology used in the study could have applications beyond cardiovascular assessment, such as cancer and diseases of the lungs.
“The technology is there, that’s not the key obstacle,” he said. “The key obstacle is that not enough physician-researchers have access to this information.”
“Contribution of Risk Factors to the Development of Coronary Atherosclerosis as Confirmed via Coronary CT Angiography: A Longitudinal Radiomics-based Study.” Collaborating with Drs. Lai and Kolossváry were Gary Gerstenblith, M.D., David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., Elliot K. Fishman, M.D., Raul N. Mandler, M.D., Thomas S. Kickler, M.D., Shaoguang Chen, M.S., Sandeepan Bhatia, M.D., and Hong Lai, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Radiology is edited by David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.
RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)
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