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Clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with coronary artery ectasia

Theodoros A Zografos1, Socrates Korovesis, Eleftherios Giazitzoglou

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Athens Euroclinic, Athens, Greece.

International Journal of Cardiology
|May 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The extent of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) correlates with reduced coronary blood flow velocity. This relationship is independent of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) severity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • The association between the extent of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and coronary blood flow remains unclear.
  • Previous studies have not adequately assessed this relationship in major epicardial arteries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between the topographical extent of CAE and coronary flow velocity.
  • To explore the association of CAE extent with clinical characteristics in patients with isolated CAE and coexisting coronary artery disease (CAD).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 3764 coronary angiograms to identify patients with CAE.
  • Assessment of ectasia extent and coronary flow velocity using TIMI frame count (TFC).
  • Evaluation of CAD severity with the Gensini index and number of diseased vessels.

Main Results:

  • A positive correlation was found between mean TFC and the topographical extent of CAE (rs=0.733, p<0.001).
  • Topographical extent and maximum diameter of ectatic segments independently predict TFC in the left anterior descending (LAD) and right coronary arteries (RCA).
  • Myocardial infarction history was independently associated with CAE extent and CAD severity.

Conclusions:

  • Coronary artery ectasia extent is correlated with coronary flow velocity.
  • CAE extent is associated with clinical presentation, irrespective of significant coronary stenoses.
Abstract

Keywords:
Coronary angiographyCoronary artery diseaseCoronary artery ectasia

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