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Exertional Syncope Caused by Hemodynamically Significant Myocardial Bridging With Coronary Vasospasm
Takumi Toya1, Yoshichika Miyazaki2, Otoya Sekine2
1Department of Cardiology, NHO Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan; Nishikoyama Toya Medical Clinic-Diabetes and Cardiovascular Care, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Myocardial bridging (MB) can cause exertional syncope by impairing blood flow during diastole, especially with tachycardia and coronary vasospasm. Invasive assessment is key to diagnosing significant MB and associated coronary vasospasm.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital anomaly where a segment of a coronary artery travels through the heart muscle.
- MB can lead to myocardial ischemia due to impaired diastolic coronary perfusion and coronary vasomotor dysfunction.
- Symptoms may include exertional presyncope or syncope.
Background:
Myocardial bridging (MB) may cause myocardial ischemia through impaired diastolic coronary perfusion and coronary vasomotor dysfunction, occasionally presenting as exertional presyncope or syncope.
Case Summary:
We report 2 patients with exertional presyncope/syncope caused by hemodynamically significant MB and concomitant epicardial coronary spasm. Coronary angiography showed no obstructive disease. Acetylcholine provocation induced diffuse spasm in the mid- to distal left anterior descending artery, whereas intracoronary nitroglycerine unmasked systolic compression of a mid-left anterior descending artery MB. Dobutamine stress with resting full-cycle ratio demonstrated functionally significant ischemia and reproduced symptoms, accompanied by marked reductions in distal coronary and systemic blood pressure. Treatment with diltiazem resulted in complete symptom resolution.
Discussion:
MB may cause exertional syncope through stress-induced impairment of diastolic coronary perfusion, exacerbated by tachycardia and concomitant vasospasm.
Take-Home Messages:
Comprehensive invasive vasomotor and physiological assessment is valuable for identifying clinically significant MB and concomitant coronary vasospasm in patients presenting with exertional presyncope or syncope.
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