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Among Ectasia Patients with Coexisting Coronary Artery Disease, TIMI Frame Count Correlates with Ectasia Size and
Hasahya Tony1, Kai Meng2, Bangwei Wu3
1Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Avation Road 13, Wuhan 43003, China.
Insights
Coronary artery ectasia (CAE), found in 3.8% of patients, is often linked with coronary artery disease (CAD). Larger ectasias correlate with slower coronary blood flow, measured by TIMI frame count (TFC).
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) affects 0.3–5.3% of patients undergoing coronary angiography.
- TIMI frame count (TFC) measures coronary flow, with higher TFC indicating slower flow.
- CAE is associated with delayed coronary flow and increased TFC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of CAE in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
- To investigate the correlation between ectasia size and length with coronary flow (TFC) in patients with CAE and coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- Evaluated angiograms of 789 patients for CAE, CAD, and Markis type of CAE.
- Measured ectasia size and length in ectatic right coronary arteries (RCA).
- Correlated ectasia dimensions with TFC in patients with CAE and CAD.
Main Results:
- CAE prevalence was 3.8% (30 patients).
- 83.87% of CAE patients also had CAD; RCA was most involved (70.4%).
- Markis type IV was the most common CAE type (64%).
- Patients with CAE and CAD had significantly higher TFC than controls (P = 0.035).
- A moderate positive correlation existed between ectasia size and TFC (r = 0.598, P = 0.007).
- Ectasia length did not significantly correlate with TFC (rho = 0.334, P = 0.163).
Conclusions:
- CAE prevalence is 3.8%, with Markis type IV being most common.
- Larger ectasias are associated with slower coronary flow.
- CAE, particularly when co-occurring with CAD, impacts coronary blood flow dynamics.
Abstract:
Background. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) occurs in 0.3 to 5.3% of patients undergoing coronary angiography. TIMI frame count (TFC) is an index of coronary flow that correlates with flow velocity. In ectasia patients, there is delayed coronary flow with increased TFC. Methods. We evaluated angiograms of 789 patients for presence of CAE, coronary artery disease (CAD), and Markis type of CAE. We measured ectasia size and length and their correlation with TFC in ectatic right coronary arteries (RCA) of patients with CAE and CAD. Results. 30 patients had CAE (3.8%). Of these 16.7% had isolated CAE, while 83.87% had CAE and CAD. Among CAE and CAD patients, the RCA was most involved (70.4%), and Markis type IV CAE was the commonest (64%). In isolated CAE, the RCA, LAD, and LCx were equally involved (33.3%). Patients with CAE and CAD had significantly higher TFC compared to controls, P = 0.035. There was a positive correlation of moderate strength, between ectasia size and TFC, r(17) = 0.598, P = 0.007. Ectasia length was not significantly correlated with TFC, rho (17) = 0.334, P = 0.163. Conclusion. Among patients undergoing angiography, CAE has a prevalence of 3.8% and Markis type IV is the commonest. Larger ectasias are associated with slower coronary flow.
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