BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The term "coronary ectasia" describes the dilatation of one or more coronary artery segments with the signs of an impaired coronary blood flow. The prevalence, clinical significance and necessity of treatment of such a lesion is unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Diagnostic coronary angiographies of 7101 patients (2131 women and 4970 men) were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of dilated coronary segments. Prevalence, age- and gender distribution, cardiovascular risk factors, clinical symptoms, CRP-concentrations, prevalence of myocardial infarction as well as the coronary morphology of patients with coronary ectasia were studied. The occurrence of myocardial infarction in this group was compared to that in a control group consisting of patients with stenotic coronary artery disease. RESULTS: The prevalence of coronary ecstasy was 1.4 % (women: 0.56 %; men: 1.79 %), mean age of patients was 63.5 +/- 10.5 years. The right coronary artery was most frequently involved (RCA: 97 %, LAD: 30 %, RCX: 23 %, LCA: 35 %). In patients with one-vessel disease the right coronary artery was exclusively affected. In 85.1 % the dilatation of coronary segments was associated with stenotic coronary artery disease. 73.3 % of the patients with coronary ectasias suffered from angina, 33.7 % CCS (Canadian Cardiovascular Society) class III and IV. Angina in patients with coronary ecstasy did not differ from that of patients with stenotic coronary artery disease only. Patients with coronary ectasias had a higher incidence of myocardial infarction than patients with stenotic coronary heart disease (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Coronary ectasia is a relatively rare entity and often associated with stenosis. Angina is a common symptom. Patients with coronary ectasias seem to suffer more frequently from myocardial infarctions than patients with only stenotic coronary heart disease.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The term "coronary ectasia" describes the dilatation of one or more coronary artery segments with the signs of an impaired coronary blood flow. The prevalence, clinical significance and necessity of treatment of such a lesion is unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Diagnostic coronary angiographies of 7101 patients (2131 women and 4970 men) were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of dilated coronary segments. Prevalence, age- and gender distribution, cardiovascular risk factors, clinical symptoms, CRP-concentrations, prevalence of myocardial infarction as well as the coronary morphology of patients with coronary ectasia were studied. The occurrence of myocardial infarction in this group was compared to that in a control group consisting of patients with stenotic coronary artery disease. RESULTS: The prevalence of coronary ecstasy was 1.4 % (women: 0.56 %; men: 1.79 %), mean age of patients was 63.5 +/- 10.5 years. The right coronary artery was most frequently involved (RCA: 97 %, LAD: 30 %, RCX: 23 %, LCA: 35 %). In patients with one-vessel disease the right coronary artery was exclusively affected. In 85.1 % the dilatation of coronary segments was associated with stenotic coronary artery disease. 73.3 % of the patients with coronary ectasias suffered from angina, 33.7 % CCS (Canadian Cardiovascular Society) class III and IV. Angina in patients with coronary ecstasy did not differ from that of patients with stenotic coronary artery disease only. Patients with coronary ectasias had a higher incidence of myocardial infarction than patients with stenotic coronary heart disease (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION:Coronary ectasia is a relatively rare entity and often associated with stenosis. Angina is a common symptom. Patients with coronary ectasias seem to suffer more frequently from myocardial infarctions than patients with only stenotic coronary heart disease.