The impact of left ventricular ejection fraction on fractional flow reserve: Insights from the FAME (Fractional flow reserve versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation) trial

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Abstract

Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) significantly improves outcomes compared with angio-guided PCI in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. However, there is a theoretical concern that in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) FFR may be less accurate and FFR-guided PCI less beneficial.From the FAME (Fractional flow reserve versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation) trial database, we compared FFR values between patients with reduced EF (both =40%, n=90 and =50%, n=252) and preserved EF (>40%, n=825 and >50%, n=663) according to the angiographic stenosis severity. We also compared differences in 1year outcomes between FFR- vs. angio-guided PCI in patients with reduced and preserved EF.Both groups had similar FFR values in lesions with 50-70% stenosis (p=0.49) and with 71-90% stenosis (p=0.89). The reduced EF group had a higher mean FFR compared to the preserved EF group across lesions with 91-99% stenosis (0.55 vs. 0.50, p=0.02), although the vast majority of FFR values remained =0.80. There was a similar reduction in the composite end point of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization with FFR-guided compared to angio-guided PCI for both the reduced (14.5% vs. 19.0%, relative risk=0.76, p=0.34) and the preserved EF group (13.8 vs. 17.0%, relative risk=0.81, p=0.25). The results were similar with an EF cutoff of 40%.Reduced EF has no influence on the FFR value unless the stenosis is very tight, in which case a theoretically explainable, but clinically irrelevant overestimation might occur. As a result, FFR-guided PCI remains beneficial regardless of EF.

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