Coronary Artery Ectasia: Case Reports and Literature Review

Mouad Lamtai1, Youssef Fihri1, Soumia Faid1

  • 1Cardiology Center, Military Hospital Mohamed V, Rabat, MAR.

Cureus
|July 10, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare condition causing abnormal coronary artery dilation. This report highlights diverse clinical presentations and management challenges due to a lack of universal guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare condition characterized by abnormal coronary artery dilation.
  • It affects 3%-8% of patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
  • The etiology involves acquired and genetic factors, with pathogenesis under investigation.

Observation:

  • Four diverse cases of coronary ectasia are presented.
  • Cases included myocardial infarction, bicuspid aortic valve with severe aortic regurgitation, moderate left ventricular dysfunction, and stable angina.
  • Coronary angiography is the gold standard for CAE diagnosis.

Findings:

  • CAE presents with varied clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic cases to acute coronary syndromes.
  • Associated conditions include bicuspid aortic valve and left ventricular dysfunction.
  • Diagnosis relies on coronary angiography.

Implications:

  • The diverse presentations of CAE pose diagnostic and management challenges.
  • There are currently no universal treatment guidelines for coronary artery ectasia.
  • Further research is needed to understand pathogenesis and establish standardized treatment protocols.

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