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Prevalence and clinical significance of coronary artery ectasia (an angiographic study)
Insights
Coronary artery ectasia, an irregular widening of major vessels, was found in 3.9% of patients. This condition, affecting arteries like the RCA and Cx, occurred independently of typical cardiovascular risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is characterized by abnormal dilatation of coronary arteries.
- Prevalence and specific characteristics of CAE require further elucidation in diverse patient cohorts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of coronary artery ectasia in a large patient cohort undergoing coronary angiography.
- To describe the distribution and demographic characteristics of patients with CAE.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of coronary cine-angiograms from 1,042 patients.
- Definition of ectasia: diffuse or segmental dilatation ≥1.5 times normal segment caliber.
- Data collection included patient demographics, affected vessels, and presence of myocardial infarction.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of CAE was 3.9% (41 patients).
- Mean age was 52 years; 95% were male.
- Most commonly affected vessels were the right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex (Cx) (56% each), followed by the left anterior descending (LAD) (37%).
- Multiple vessel involvement occurred in 51% of cases.
- Myocardial infarction was present in 51% of patients with CAE.
- No significant difference in major cardiovascular risk factors was observed between patients with and without CAE.
Conclusions:
- Coronary artery ectasia is an uncommon finding with a predilection for specific coronary arteries.
- CAE is associated with a high incidence of myocardial infarction but not with traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Abstract:
Coronary cine-angiograms of 1,042 patients were reviewed for the presence of ectasia of major coronary arteries. Ectasia or irregular dilatation of the coronary artery was defined as 1.5 times diffuse or segmental dilatation as compared to segment of normal caliber coronary artery. Forty-one (3.9%) patients were found to have diffuse or localised coronary artery dilatations with segments of normal caliber throughout the length of major vessels. Mean age of the patients was 52 years, and majority were males (39, 95%). Right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex (Cx) were involved in 23 (56%) each, left anterior descending (LAD) in 15 (37%), obtuse marginal in 4 (10%) and left main in 2 (5%). Multiple vessel involvement was present in 21 (51%). Evidence of myocardial infarction was present in 21 (51%). Major risk factors were not different from the patients with coronary artery disease without ectasia.