WARRIOR Ancillary Study for CCTA Analysis

This is an ancillary substudy of the WARRIOR Trial (NCT03417388), a multi-site, PROBE design, that will evaluate an intensive statin/ACE-I (or ARB)/aspirin treatment strategy (IMT) vs. primary prevention risk factor therapy treatment strategy (UC) in 4,422 symptomatic (chronic angina or equivalent) women with non-obstructive CAD (<50% diameter narrowing).

In this ancillary substudy, 204 patients will be recruited from the WARRIOR trial with 102 patients from each of the treatment groups (IMT vs UC). From this cohort, 102 patients per treatment group, most compliant with WARRIOR protocol will undergo a CTA from any time from 2 years post-randomization up to the end of the main WARRIOR study; with changes in plaque and PCAT characteristics quantified.

The main aims are as follows:

• To compare changes in coronary plaque characteristics and their hemodynamic significance using CTA in WARRIOR women treated with IMT vs UC;
• To compare changes in plaque inflammation-related characteristics in PCAT in WARRIOR women treated with IMT with statin in combination with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and/or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) medications vs UC;
• To relate plaque burden and plaque composition, CT flow reserve, and PCAT density changes to angina score (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ]) changes in IMT and UC-randomized WARRIOR women.

Data to be analyzed include CT angiography scans at baseline and Year 3 follow-up and corresponding study data and laboratory tests (e.g. hsCRP); plus, selected data from the main WARRIOR study that are relevant to the present ancillary study.

UPDATE; In this ancillary study, 204 patients will be recruited from the WARRIOR Trial with 102 patients from each of the treatment groups (IMT vs UC). From this cohort, 102 patients per treatment group, most compliant with WARRIOR protocol will undergo a CTA as early as 2 years after their randomization to the WARRIOR trial up to study completion; with changes in plaque and CAT characteristics quantified.

Inclusion criteria

• In addition to the inclusion criteria of the WARRIOR trial, only women who meet the following criteria will undergo final CTA at the same sites where they are screened and enrolled.
• Initial CTA with excellent or good image quality-defined as images where we are able to clearly identify the atherosclerotic plaque. Based on our preliminary assessment, we expect 90% of studies to be included.
• Measurable plaque with total plaque volume >0mm3; women without significant plaque will not receive additional radiation, and we can detect measurable changes in plaque burden and plaque composition.

Exclusion criteria

• In addition to exclusion criteria of the parent WARRIOR trial, key exclusion criteria are:
• Non-adherent with IMT. The parent trial is already powered for non-adherence. In our ancillary trial we have built in an exclusion, from final analysis, of an additional 30% who may be nonadherent with IMT or UC.