Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of coronary lesion length (LL) on fractional flow reserve (FFR) in coronary arteries with intermediate diameter stenosis (DS; 30-60%). Eighty-three patients (89 lesions) with coronary artery disease underwent FFR measurement using a Radi or Volcano pressure wire. Diameter stenosis and LL were determined by quantitative coronary angiography, and the relationship between DS, LL, and FFR was assessed by regression analysis. Seventy-nine lesions had DS between 30 and 60% and were entered into the retrospective analysis. Mean DS and LL were 41.6 (+/- 6.77%) and 9.2 (+/- 6 mm), respectively. Fractional flow reserve ranged from 0.5 to 1.0. Pearson correlation coefficient for FFR vs. LL was 0.42 (P < 0.001). Using FFR = 0.8 as a cut-off point, there was no difference in mean DS between the two subgroups (42 vs. 41.5%, P = NS), while there was a significant difference in the LL (12.39 vs. 7.83 mm, P = 0.002). In intermediate coronary artery lesion, there is a strong inverse correlation between FFR and LL.