Valtteri Uusitalo1, Antti Saraste2, Mikko Pietilä3, Sami Kajander4, Jeroen J Bax5, Juhani Knuuti4. 1. Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: vauusi@utu.fi. 2. Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Heart Center, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 3. Heart Center, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 4. Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Psychology, Nuclear Medicine, and PET, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 5. Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study observed hemodynamic consequences of myocardial bridging and its relation to coronary atherosclerosis. BACKGROUND: Myocardial bridging is seen as intramural course by computed tomography angiography (CTA) or systolic compression by invasive coronary angiography. Segments with myocardial bridging are in previous studies closely associated with proximal atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients 63 ± 7 years of age with intermediate likelihood of coronary artery disease. Segments with superficial (>1 mm) or deep (>2 mm) intramural course were identified using CTA. Myocardial perfusion was studied by 15-Oxygen water positron emission tomography and systolic compression by invasive coronary angiography. RESULTS: Myocardial bridging was detected in 34 (34%) patients in 48 different vascular segments. Of these, 24 (50%) were deep and systolic compression was present in 14 (29%). In patients without obstructive coronary artery disease, myocardial stress perfusion distal to myocardial bridging was comparable with remote control regions (3.3 ± 0.9 ml/g/min vs. 3.3 ± 0.7 ml/g/min, n = 24, p = 0.88). Stress perfusion was comparable in segments with and without systolic compression (3.0 ± 0.9 vs. 2.7 ± 1.0 ml/g/min, p = 0.43). Atherosclerotic plaques were more frequent in proximal (71%) than myocardial bridging (7%) or distal (21%) segments. The presence of atherosclerosis and the average number of plaques were comparable in coronary arteries with and without myocardial bridging (73% vs. 60%, p = 0.14 and 2.0 ± 1.7 vs. 1.5 ± 1.6, p = 0.06). Median Agatston coronary calcium score was not elevated in vessels with myocardial bridge (15 [interquartile range: 0, 129] vs. 50 [interquartile range: 0, 241], p = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial bridging of coronary arteries is common on CTA, but only approximately one-third of these show systolic compression. Myocardial bridging is not associated with reduced myocardial perfusion during vasodilator stress. Atherosclerosis is located predominantly proximal to myocardial bridging but atherosclerotic burden and presence of vulnerable plaques were comparable.
OBJECTIVES: This study observed hemodynamic consequences of myocardial bridging and its relation to coronary atherosclerosis. BACKGROUND: Myocardial bridging is seen as intramural course by computed tomography angiography (CTA) or systolic compression by invasive coronary angiography. Segments with myocardial bridging are in previous studies closely associated with proximal atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients 63 ± 7 years of age with intermediate likelihood of coronary artery disease. Segments with superficial (>1 mm) or deep (>2 mm) intramural course were identified using CTA. Myocardial perfusion was studied by 15-Oxygenwater positron emission tomography and systolic compression by invasive coronary angiography. RESULTS: Myocardial bridging was detected in 34 (34%) patients in 48 different vascular segments. Of these, 24 (50%) were deep and systolic compression was present in 14 (29%). In patients without obstructive coronary artery disease, myocardial stress perfusion distal to myocardial bridging was comparable with remote control regions (3.3 ± 0.9 ml/g/min vs. 3.3 ± 0.7 ml/g/min, n = 24, p = 0.88). Stress perfusion was comparable in segments with and without systolic compression (3.0 ± 0.9 vs. 2.7 ± 1.0 ml/g/min, p = 0.43). Atherosclerotic plaques were more frequent in proximal (71%) than myocardial bridging (7%) or distal (21%) segments. The presence of atherosclerosis and the average number of plaques were comparable in coronary arteries with and without myocardial bridging (73% vs. 60%, p = 0.14 and 2.0 ± 1.7 vs. 1.5 ± 1.6, p = 0.06). Median Agatston coronary calcium score was not elevated in vessels with myocardial bridge (15 [interquartile range: 0, 129] vs. 50 [interquartile range: 0, 241], p = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial bridging of coronary arteries is common on CTA, but only approximately one-third of these show systolic compression. Myocardial bridging is not associated with reduced myocardial perfusion during vasodilator stress. Atherosclerosis is located predominantly proximal to myocardial bridging but atherosclerotic burden and presence of vulnerable plaques were comparable.
Authors: Srdjan B Aleksandric; Ana D Djordjevic-Dikic; Vojislav L Giga; Milorad B Tesic; Ivan A Soldatovic; Marko D Banovic; Milan R Dobric; Vladan Vukcevic; Miloje V Tomasevic; Dejan N Orlic; Nikola Boskovic; Ivana Jovanovic; Milan A Nedeljkovic; Goran Stankovic; Miodrag C Ostojic; Branko D Beleslin Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2021-12-30 Impact factor: 4.241