Coronary Inflammation in Patients With and Without Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Insights From a Novel Computed Tomography Imaging Biomarker Pericoronary Adipose Tissue Attenuation

In patients undergoing clinically indicated CTCA, patients without SMuRFs exhibited a similar degree of coronary inflammation to those with SMuRFs, despite having a lower plaque burden and stenosis severity. These findings may provide early mechanistic insights into why patients without SMuRFs still develop CAD and subsequent cardiovascular events. Further research is needed to validate these findings. If confirmed, the therapeutic target of inflammation could be explored further in patients without SMuRFs.