Coronary pressure measurement to identify the lesion requiring percutaneous coronary intervention in equivocal tandem lesions

OBJECTIVES: No reliable methods are available for determining application of percutaneous coronary intervention for treatment of equivocal tandem lesions. We investigated whether coronary pressure measurement is useful for determining the lesion that requires percutaneous coronary intervention in tandem lesions. METHODS: We measured coronary pressure in 72 consecutive patients with tandem lesions. Myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFRmyo) was obtained as the ratio of coronary pressure distal to the lesion/aortic pressure under maximal hyperemia. If the FFRmyo across the tandem lesions was >or=0.75, we deferred percutaneous coronary intervention for the lesion. When the tandem lesions showed FFRmyo<0.75, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed on the lesion that showed angiographically higher stenosis. When FFRmyo was <0.75 after one-lesion percutaneous coronary intervention, this intervention was carried out on the remaining lesion. RESULTS: We deferred percutaneous coronary intervention for 26 patients (36.1%), and performed percutaneous coronary intervention in 46 patients (63.8%). We performed percutaneous coronary intervention for one lesion in 19 patients (26.4%) and for both lesions in 27 patients (37.5%). Among patients in whom percutaneous coronary intervention was deferred, only two patients (7.7%) required target lesion revascularization during the follow-up period. This rate was not higher than that in the 46 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for one or two lesions (six patients, 13.0%). Similarly, the target lesion revascularization in lesions with initially deferred percutaneous coronary intervention (5.6%, 4/71 lesions) was not higher than that in lesions with percutaneous coronary intervention (15.1%, 11/73 lesions). Major cardiac events, cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction, did not occur in patients with deferred percutaneous coronary intervention and in those with percutaneous coronary intervention during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Our results clearly showed that coronary pressure measurement was clinically useful for identifying equivocal tandem lesions requiring percutaneous coronary intervention.     

Single coronary artery: a familial clustering

A 59 year old man undergoing investigation for chest pain was found at elective coronary angiography to have a single coronary artery; the left coronary had a normal distribution, with the right coronary originating as a continuation of the atrioventricular circumflex. His 30 year old daughter was admitted for elective coronary angiography for further investigation of a dilated cardiomyopathy. She was also found to have a single coronary artery. However, in her case, the right and left coronary arteries arose from the right sinus of Valsalva; the right coronary had a normal distribution, the left coronary passed anterior to the pulmonary trunk and aorta.     

老年人冠状动脉起源异常研究

目的 分析老年人冠状动脉起源异常的类型及检出率,总结其冠状动脉分布的优势情况,并探讨冠状动脉起源异常与冠状动脉粥样硬化的关系.方法 回顾性分析北京大学第一医院接受冠状动脉造影检查的老年患者资料,记录冠状动脉起源异常的检出频度和类型,及发生冠状动脉粥样硬化性狭窄的情况.结果 冠状动脉造影总数2031例,检出冠状动脉起源异常46例(2.3%).右冠状动脉起源异常26例(56.5%),右冠状动脉起源异常多于左冠状动脉(19例,41.3%).其中以右冠状动脉起源于左冠状动脉窦为最常见类型,占总异常的28.3%(13例).并存冠状动脉粥样硬化性狭窄者37例(80.4%),其中17例(37.0%)累及起源异常的冠状动脉.结论 我国老年人冠状动脉起源异常多见于右冠状动脉,其中具有潜在临床危险的右冠状动脉起源于左冠状动脉窦为最常见类型.冠状动脉起源异常与冠状动脉粥样硬化存在相关性.

Abstract：

Objective To estimate the patterns and frequency of anomalous coronary origin with angiography in the Chinese elderly population and evaluate the correlation between anomalous coronary origin and development of coronary atherosclerotic stenosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the basis of angiographic data among elderly patients who underwent coronary arteriography in Beijing University First Hospital. Those with anomalous origin of coronary arteries were selected for further assessment and significant stenosis in coronary arteries was recorded.Results Among 2031 patients, 46 patients were found to have anomalous origin of coronary artery,with an incidence rate of 2.3%. Right coronary artery was the most common anomalous vessel, being involved in 26 patients (56.5%). The anomalous origin was more frequent in right coronary artery than in left coronary artery (41.3%). The most common anomaly was right coronary artery arising from left coronary sinus in 13 patients (28.3%). Significant atherosclerotic lesions in the anomalous arteries were seen in 37 patients (80.4%). Conclusions In Chinese elderly population, the anomalous origin of coronary artery is more frequent in right coronary artery, the most common anomaly resides in right coronary artery arising from left coronary sinus. The anomalous coronary artery increases risk for development of coronary atherosclerotic stenosis.     

Comparison of the risk factors for coronary artery spasm with those for organic stenosis in a Japanese population: role of cigarette smoking

We compared the risk factors for coronary spasm with those for coronary atherosclerosis in 183 patients with coronary spasm, 132 patients with coronary organic stenosis, and 224 control subjects with chest pain syndrome. Our findings confirmed that, when compared with controls, age, gender, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cigarette smoking are all significant risk factors for coronary organic stenosis. On the other hand, only cigarette smoking proved to be a significant risk factor for coronary spasm. Also, when compared between coronary spasm group and coronary organic stenosis group, the incidence of cigarette smoking in males was significantly higher in the coronary spasm group than in the coronary organic stenosis group. We conclude that cigarette smoking is a crucial risk factor for coronary spasm. On the other hand, serum lipid levels and the incidence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were within the normal ranges in the coronary spasm patients and were thus poorly associated with coronary spasm. These results showed that the risk factors for coronary spasm differ significantly from those for atherosclerosis-based coronary stenosis in the Japanese. Among the risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis (organic stenosis) smoking alone was a significant preventable risk factor for coronary artery spasm.     

不同冠状动脉评分方法评价冠心病严重程度的关系研究

目的:探讨3种不同评分方法评价冠心病严重程度的关系。方法:将156例行冠状动脉造影的患者分为冠心病组和对照组,根据冠状动脉损害的严重程度分别用Leaman评分法、Gensini评分法和美国心脏病学会/美国心脏协会(ACC/AHA)评分法进行评分。采用相关、方差分析和Logistic回归分析探讨3种不同冠状动脉评分方法的关系。结果:3种评分方法高度相关,Gensini和Leaman的相关系数为0.912,ACC/AHA和Leaman的相关系数为0.807,Gensini和ACC/AHA的相关系数为0.716。OR值有差异。结论:3种评分方法均可作为诊断冠心病严重程度的量化指标,可根据临床实际需要选择任一种方法进行评分。     

Detection of coronary artery disease by free-breathing, whole heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography: our initial experience

Free-breathing, whole heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has gained great attention as a totally noninvasive diagnostic modality for the detection of coronary artery disease. We examined the accuracy of coronary MRA to identify the presence or absence of coronary artery stenosis in comparison with conventional coronary angiography. Free-breathing, whole heart coronary MRA was performed in 43 consecutive patients undergoing conventional coronary angiography. A total of 172 coronary arteries and 344 coronary artery segments were analyzed. In the coronary artery segment-based analysis, the sensitivity to detect coronary stenosis ≥50% was 82% and specificity was 100%. The accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was 97%, 98%, and 96%, respectively. In the vessel-based analysis the sensitivity was 86%, specificity 99%, accuracy 95%, positive predictive value 98%, and negative predictive value 94%. In the patient-based analysis, the sensitivity to detect coronary stenosis <50% was 97% and the specificity to define luminal narrowing <50% was 90%. The accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was 95%, 97%, and 90%, respectively. Free-breathing, whole heart coronary MRA yields excellent diagnostic accuracy to detect significant coronary artery disease and has the potential to become the routine diagnostic modality for patients with suspected coronary artery disease.     

High-resolution MR angiography: results in diseased arteries

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of a respiratory-gated three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance angiographic technique (MRCA) in identifying coronary arteries in healthy volunteers and patients with proximal coronary artery stenoses and to compare the results of the navigator echo technique in the assessment of coronary artery stenosis with conventional coronary angiography. Twenty healthy volunteers and twenty patients with proximal coronary artery stenosis were examined at 1.5 Teslas with a cardiac-gated and retrospective respiratory-gated 3D gradient echo sequence. Visualization of the main coronary arteries was analyzed after curved MPR-reconstruction in three defined segments. For the assessment of image quality, a grading system including six scores was used to evaluate 400 vessel segments. Detection of coronary artery stenosis was compared with conventional coronary angiography by two blinded readers. In healthy volunteers, an image quality with a score of at least 3 (i.e., completely identified coronary arteries with major luminal irregularities) was found in 55% for the proximal segment, 47% for the middle segment and 20% for the distal coronary artery segment. Respective data for patients were 69% for the proximal segment, 47% for the middle segment and 20% for the distal segment. In contrast to other studies, we compared MRCA and conventional coronary angiography in the assessment of stenoses for all coronary vessels and for selected coronary vessels with high image quality. For the assessment of coronary artery stenoses (n = 53), sensitivity was 73% and specificity was 50% after evaluation of all patients by two blinded readers. A sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 54% were found for evaluation of coronary vessels with an image quality score of at least 3. With the navigator echo MR technique, a complete 3D visualization of the main coronary arteries is possible in cases with variable image quality, but further experience and improvement of the prospective navigator echo sequence using shorter acquisition times is necessary for reliable assessment of coronary artery stenoses.     

Diagnosis of coronary artery anatomy by two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with transposition of the great arteries

With the increasing popularity of the Jatene procedure for the treatment of common or D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA), the preoperative definition of coronary artery anatomy in D-TGA has assumed great importance. Consequently, the reliability of two-dimensional echocardiography for determining the coronary artery anatomy was studied in 32 infants with D-TGA. Surgical observation of the coronary anatomy was used to assess the accuracy of the echocardiographic diagnosis. The coronary arteries were visualized in 29 of 32 patients (90%), predominantly with the use of parasternal and apical views. In the three remaining patients visualization of the coronary arteries was inadequate to allow determination of their anatomy. The coronary artery anatomy was correctly predicted in 25 of the 29 patients in whom the coronary arteries were visualized. The anatomic patterns included usual coronary anatomy for D-TGA (n = 16), left circumflex coronary from the right coronary artery (n = 6), single right coronary artery (n = 1), single left coronary artery (n = 1), and inverted origin of the coronary arteries (n = 1). The errors in the remaining four patients were (1) false-negative diagnosis of origin of the left circumflex coronary from the right coronary artery (n = 1); (2) false-positive diagnosis of origin of the left circumflex coronary from the right coronary artery (n = 1), and (3) diagnosis of origin of the left circumflex coronary from the right coronary artery when the correct diagnosis was single right coronary artery (n = 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The role of transesophageal dopplerographical assessment of coronary reserve in coronary sinus in diagnosis of hemodynamically significant left coronary artery stenoses

AIM: To assess the role of estimation of coronary reserve in coronary sinus by transesophageal doppler during dipyridamole stress test for diagnosis of hemodynamically significant left coronary artery stenoses. MATERIAL: Patients with angiographically proven left coronary artery stenoses (n=29) and 25 healthy volunteers. METHODS: Coronary reserve was calculated as 1) ratio of peak to basal diastolic coronary flow velocity (V(p)CR), and 2) ratio of volume coronary blood flow velocity before and during hyperemia (VBF CR). Coronary reserve <2 was considered decreased. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects patients with coronary heart desease had significantly lower V(p)CR (1.67+/-0.44 and 2.56+/-0.87, respectively, p<0.001) and VBF CR (2.42+/-1.37 and 5.53+/-3.65, respectively, p<0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of coronary reserve below 2 for diagnosis of left coronary artery stenoses was 72 and 72%, respectively, for V(p)CR, and 49 and 96%, respectively, for VBF CR. VBF CR below 2 was a marker of severe double vessel left coronary artery disease. V(p)CR <2 was associated with single vessel stenoses within left coronary artery system. CONCLUSION: The use of evaluation of coronary reserve by transesophageal dopplerography for diagnosis of left coronary artery stenoses is methodologically correct. Level of coronary reserve in coronary sinus can be considered an integral parameter characterizing total left coronary artery atherosclerotic damage.     

红细胞分布宽度与冠心病的相关性研究

目的探讨红细胞分布宽度(RDW)与冠心病的相关性。方法连续收集因胸痛疑诊冠心病或已明确冠心病为进一步介入治疗的患者677例,根据冠状动脉造影结果确诊为冠心病499例为冠心病组,除外冠心病178例为对照组。记录2组的临床资料,分析冠心病的危险因素,探讨RDW与冠心病的相关性,采用改良Gensini法评价冠状动脉病变的严重程度,并分析其与RDW的关系。结果与对照组比较,冠心病组RDW明显升高[(13.0±0.8)%vs(12.7±0.8)%,P=0.001],且RDW与冠状动脉病变严重程度呈正相关(r=0.37,P<0.01)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,RDW是冠心病和冠状动脉病变严重程度的独立预测因素(OR=1.34,95%CI:1.02～1.77,P<0.05;OR=2.23,95%CI:1.62～3.08,P<0.01)。RDW界值为12.9%,RDW的ROC曲线下面积=0.61,95%CI:0.56～0.66,诊断的敏感性为50.0%,特异性为65.2%。结论 RDW与冠心病及冠状动脉病变严重程度独立相关,是冠心病及冠状动脉病变严重程度的独立预测因素。     

脉搏波传导速度和踝臂指数对冠心病的诊断价值

目的探讨脉搏波传导速度（pulse wave velocity,Pwv）、踝臂指数（ankle brachial index,ABI）对冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病（冠心病）冠状动脉（冠脉）狭窄严重程度的诊断价值,分析Pwv及动脉内膜中层厚度（inteima-media thickness,IMT）对于筛选冠心病的敏感性与特异性。方法应用无创动脉硬化检测仪和彩色多普勒超声机收集体检及住院疑似冠心病的132例患者的血管功能性指标PWV、ABI及结构性指标IMT,同时对这些患者行冠脉造影检查,按照冠脉造影结果将患者分为冠脉正常组及冠心病组。按照冠脉造影结果又将冠心病组分为单支病变组、两支病变、多支病变组。按照分组对检查结果进行相关性分析并观察PWV、IMT对于筛选冠心病的灵敏性与特异性。结果冠心病组Pwv显著高于冠脉正常组,差异有统计学意义（1756．07±314．30vs1385．98±109．92,t=-8．994,P〈0．001）：冠心病组ABI低于冠脉正常组,差异有统计学意义（1．06±0．13vs1．19±0．07,t=6．011,P〈0．001）。PWV对于筛选冠心病的敏感性为66．19％、特异性为96％;IMT对于筛选冠心病的敏感性为50．72％、特异性为75％。结论Pwv、ABI对于评价冠心病冠脉病变的严重程度有很好的诊断价值：Pwv比IMT对于冠心病的筛选具有更重要的临床意义。     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in left main stem coronary stenosis: a five-year appraisal

Left main stem coronary stenosis is now uniformly treated with coronary artery bypass grafting. The advent of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has permitted a non-operative improvement in myocardial blood flow in many cases of single- and multi-vessel coronary atherosclerosis. The use of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in left main stem coronary stenosis has been sporadic and controversial. Twenty percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties were attempted in 19 patients as the treatment of choice for left main stem coronary stenosis in the past 66 months. The primary success rate was 95% (19/20 patients). The emergency surgery was performed only once (5%), and no death occurred secondary to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty itself. In the follow-up (mean 41 months) period, 12 patients (63%) remained in satisfactory condition with no further need for surgical intervention. Seven patients (37%) ultimately required coronary artery bypass grafting. Although coronary artery bypass grafting will remain the fundamental treatment for left main stem coronary stenosis, this series delineates those anatomic and clinical exceptions wherein percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty may be utilized as the primary therapy for left main stem coronary stenosis.     

Creatine kinase isoenzymes in the assessment of heart disease.

Twenty-four patients with severe congestive heart failure and cardiomegaly in whom the presence or absence of significant coronary disease could not be ascertained clinically underwent fluoroscopy for coronary artery calcification prior to cardiac catheterization. Ten of the patients were found to have significant coronary artery disease, and 14 had normal coronary arteriograms. Coronary artery calcification was found in all ten patients with significant coronary disease, and was absent in all of those patients with normal coronary arteriograms. We conclude that fluoroscopy for coronary artery calcification provides a reliable noninvasive method for differentiating ischemic from nonischemic cardiomyopathy.     

Coronary artery calcification detected by CT: clinical significance and angiographic correlates

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) to detect coronary calcification was performed on 161 patients undergoing coronary angiography for proven or suspected coronary artery disease. Among 108 patients in whom coronary calcifications was identified, 90% had significant coronary stenosis angiographically (greater than 75% stenosis), and 80% of 121 patients with significant coronary stenosis showed calcification by CT. The relationship between the calcification site and the significance in stenosis of each vessel was determined. Calcification was present in 133 arteries among 205 stenotic coronary arteries (sensitivity = 65%) as compared with 59 of 439 entire arteries with normal coronary angiograms (specificity = 87%). In the younger age group the sensitivity of calcification for stenosis of each coronary artery was lower and the specificity and predictive value were generally higher than those in the elderly group. These results demonstrate that CT is a valuable procedure for detecting coronary arterial disease, since this examination is easy to conduct, noninvasive, and widely applicable for screening a large population.     

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of two-dimensional echocardiography in detecting coronary artery aneurysms in patients with Kawasaki disease

Seventy-seven patients with Kawasaki disease were prospectively evaluated from 1978 to 1983 to determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value for detecting coronary artery aneurysms with two-dimensional echocardiography. Seventy (91%) underwent selective coronary arteriography and are included in this report. The study was divided into two periods because of increased experience and the use of a systematic approach with two-dimensional echocardiography in the second period as compared with the first. Aneurysms were demonstrated in nine patients (13%). The coronary artery system was divided into six regions: proximal third of the main right coronary artery, distal right coronary artery, left main coronary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, circumflex coronary artery and distal left coronary artery. The sensitivity and specificity were high when imaging the proximal regions, and improved from the first period to the second. Both sensitivity and specificity were lower for the more distal regions of the right and left coronary arteries. Overall, the sensitivity of two-dimensional echocardiography was 100% because there were no patients in our study who had isolated distal coronary artery aneurysms. Two-dimensional echocardiography is a sensitive and specific test for detecting aneurysms in the proximal portions of both the right and left coronary arteries, and is useful in selecting patients for invasive investigation with selective coronary arteriography.     

Quantitative analysis of coronary arteriogram by a computer-assisted method

A computer-assisted method for quantitating coronary arteriograms was applied to measure the diameter of major epicardial coronary arteries in 58 normal subjects and 25 hypertensive patients, and to determine the percentage of relative stenosis of coronary lesions in 109 patients with coronary artery disease. Average coronary size was larger than normal in patients with hypertension. The left coronary artery was larger than the right coronary artery in the majority of patients. The degree of coronary stenosis can be measured accurately with good reproducibility. Thus this inexpensive microprocessor system provides rapid quantitation of coronary artery diameter and lesions.     

The importance of type IV hyperlipoproteinemia as a predisposing factor in coronary artery disease

One hundred seventy-six consecutive patients were evaluated for the frequency of potentially reversible risk factors associated with coronary artery disease. The results In a group of 105 patients with objective coronary artery disease was compared with a control group of 71 patients without coronary disease. The prevalence of risk factors was examined in the entire group of 176 patients and in a young subgroup of 55 patients with coronary disease who were under 50 years of age.Obesity was the most prevalent risk factor for the whole group but was especially significant for the young patient with coronary disease. Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia, the most prevalent lipoprotein disorder in the study, was significantly elevated in the entire group as well as in the young patients with coronary disease. An abnormal glucose tolerance test was another feature of the young patients with coronary disease. Although some men with coronary disease did not have a predisposing metabolic abnormality, no woman in the study had coronary disease if a metabolic abnormality was not present. These findings emphasize the metabolic nature of coronary artery disease as well as the atherogenic potential of type IV hyperlipoproteinemia.     

冠状动脉起源异常的检出率与冠状动脉狭窄

目的　评价国人冠状动脉(冠脉)起源异常的冠脉造影检出率,并探讨其与冠脉狭窄之间的关系。方法　回顾性分析2001年1月至2004年6月在我院接受选择性冠脉造影的患者,观察并记录冠脉起源异常的检出频度和类型,以及合并冠脉狭窄的情况。结果　4094例患者中,共检出冠脉起源异常者32例,检出率为0 78%,其中右冠脉异常起源最为多见,占总数的65 6%;合并冠脉狭窄者共11例(占34 3% ), 其中仅5例(占15 6% )累及起源异常的冠脉,且无1例冠脉狭窄单独累及起源异常的冠脉。结论　国人冠脉起源异常的检出率与国外文献报道结果相似,其中以右冠脉起源异常最为多见,冠脉起源异常与冠脉狭窄不具有相关性。     

Alcohol consumption, coronary calcium, and coronary heart disease events.

This study was performed to determine if alcohol intake was associated with reduced coronary risk in a high-risk asymptomatic population, and whether this effect was independent of coronary risk factors and coronary calcium. In 1,196 asymptomatic subjects with coronary risk factors, we assessed alcohol consumption history, performed risk factor measurements, and quantified coronary calcium with electron beam computed tomography. These subjects were then followed for a mean of 41 months, and coronary events (myocardial infarction or coronary death) were noted. Significant inverse predictors of coronary events included alcohol use and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Direct predictors of events were history of systemic hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, serum cholesterol, and coronary calcium score. Subjects with coronary calcium were 3.1 times more likely to suffer a coronary event than those without calcium (95% confidence interval [CI] limits 1.3 to 7.2). Subjects who drank alcohol had a relative risk of 0.3 (95% CI limits 0.2 to 0.6) for developing coronary events. After controlling for age, gender, and other risk factors with logistic regression, these differences in relative risk persisted (relative risk 0.58; 95% CI limits 0.41 to 0.82). Alcohol consumption is a significant inverse predictor of coronary events, comparable in magnitude to standard risk factors and to radiographically measured coronary calcium. This effect is independent of coronary risk factors and coronary calcium.     

Cardiac tamponade due to rupture of coronary artery fistula to the coronary sinus with giant aneurysm of coronary artery: usefulness of transthoracic echocardiography

A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of back pain and syncope. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion, a collapsed right ventricle, a giant aneurysm connected to the coronary sinus, a dilated left main trunk coronary artery, and a dilated left circumflex artery (LCx). Furthermore, there was a coronary artery fistula arising from the LCx that drained into the coronary sinus. We diagnosed cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the coronary artery fistula or giant aneurysm, and successful emergency surgery was performed. Rupture of coronary artery aneurysm or coronary artery fistula is very rare. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was very useful in our case for the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade, giant coronary aneurysm, and coronary artery fistula.