Magnetic Resonance Adenosine Perfusion Imaging as Gatekeeper of Invasive Coronary Intervention

Current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) strongly support the performance of non-invasive imaging techniques for the detection of myocardial ischemia prior to revascularization procedures. This recommendation originates from the strong evidence base showing the lack of prognostic benefit from percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) over optimal medical therapy in patients without verification of myocardial ischemia. On the other hand, it could be demonstrated that patients with functionally significant coronary artery stenoses do benefit from revascularization. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has emerged to be a diagnostic modality of choice for the detection of myocardial ischemia with high sensitivity and specificity. The investigators therefore designed this prospective and randomized trial to compare a CMR-driven vs. angiography-driven management of patients with stable CAD concerning major cardiac endpoints, futile angiographies and quality of life.