Single coronary artery anomaly: branching of left coronary artery from right coronary artery with 2 distinct patterns

Normal coronary vasculature has a left coronary artery arising from the left coronary cusp and a right coronary artery arising from the right coronary cusp. In about 0.024% of cases in the general population, there is no left main coronary artery. In fact, there is a single coronary artery, which arises from the right coronary cusp. We encountered 2 such cases with distinct patterns. The first case was a patient with angina who had an abnormal stress test for which he underwent coronary angiography. This revealed a single coronary artery arising from the right coronary cusp. This vessel gave rise to the right coronary artery, which had a varicose anatomy, with a critical lesion in the posterior descending artery. The left coronary artery passed anteriorly to the pulmonary artery with a critical lesion in the circumflex artery. In the second case, the patient also had angina with a normal noninvasive work-up but due to his persistent symptoms, coronary angiography was performed. This revealed a single coronary artery arising from the right coronary cusp. Subsequent CT angiography revealed that the left coronary artery coursed in between the aorta and pulmonary artery without critical lesions. In both cases, the patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.     

A case of coronary artery fistula with angina pectoris

A case of coronary artery fistula with myocardial ischemia is reported. A 57-year-old-man was admitted to our hospital complaining of anterior chest pain on exertion. Submaximal Treadmill exercise showed the depression of ST segment in leads II, III, aVF, V5 and V6. 75% stenosis of right coronary artery (segment 2) and congenital coronary artery fistula originating from both the right and left coronary arteries were demonstrated by the coronary arteriography. One abnormal artery was originated from proximal portion of the right coronary artery (segment 1) and entered the pulmonary artery trunk. Another one was originated from proximal portion of the left coronary artery and terminated in angiomatous plexus which then communicated with the pulmonary artery trunk. We speculate that myocardial ischemia resulted from decreased right coronary blood flow due to coronary steal and proximal organic stenosis of right coronary artery. Recently, the reviews of coronary artery fistula are increasing, but coronary artery fistula with myocardial ischemia is relatively rare. This case was followed with medical therapy, because antianginal agents were effective. Operative coronary ligation may be necessary, if he has angina or high output heart failure during follow-up.     

Tetralogy of Fallot with abnormal coronary arteries

Between 1980 and 1989 nine patients with Tetralogy of Fallot with abnormal coronary artery underwent surgical treatment. In all but one, the abnormal coronary artery was identified at surgery. Seven (group I) had the anterior descending coronary artery arising from the right coronary artery; one (group II) with had the right coronary artery arising from the left coronary artery and finally, the only case of the group III had left coronary artery arising from the main pulmonary artery. Systemic-pulmonary anastomosis was done in two cases of the Group I, in one due to severe hypoplasia of the pulmonary ring and main pulmonary artery and in the other due to the anomaly of the coronary artery. In the case of the Group II the right coronary artery was accidentally cut and the patient developed right ventricular infarction and died. All surviving are in NYHA functional class I. Nowadays, the preoperative evaluation of Tetralogy of Fallot, can be done by echocardiography despite the possibility of its association with abnormal coronary artery. In special cases aortography or arterial coronarography should be considered.     

Right coronary artery originating from distal left circumflex: an extremely rare variety of single coronary artery

Single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly of the coronary circulation which is often associated with other congenital cardiac malformations. Right coronary artery arising from the distal left circumflex artery is an extremely rare variety of single coronary artery. We report a patient with a single coronary artery system, in whom the right coronary artery originated from the distal left circumflex. No other associated cardiac anomaly was detected.     

Decreased nitrate-mediated dilatation in patients with coronary artery ectasia: an ultrasonographic evaluation of brachial artery

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery ectasia has been defined as localized or diffuse nonobstructive lesions of the epicardial coronary arteries with a luminal dilation exceeding the 1.5-fold of normal adjacent segment or vessel diameter. Although coronary artery disease is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood. The brachial artery ultrasound test for flow-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilatory function includes administration of sublingual nitrates to examine the vasodilating effect of an exogenous source of nitric oxide. In the present study, we aimed to compare flow-mediated and nitrate-mediated responses of brachial artery in patients with coronary artery ectasia and patients with coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients with coronary artery ectasia in combination with coronary artery disease and 42 age-matched and sex-matched patients with coronary artery disease alone were included in the study. Flow-mediated and nitrate-mediated dilatations were measured in all patients using a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonographic system. RESULTS: Baseline brachial artery diameters in patients with coronary artery ectasia were not statistically different from those in patients with coronary artery disease (4.2+/-0.6 vs. 4.0+/-0.6 mm, respectively, P=0.16). Although the forearm flow-mediated dilatation of the patients with coronary artery ectasia did not differ from that of patients with coronary artery disease alone (5.5+/-3.8 vs. 4.8+/-3.6%, respectively, P=0.41), nitrate-mediated dilatation was significantly lower than that of patients with coronary artery disease alone (7.9+/-5.2 vs. 10.9+/-5.4%, respectively, P=0.02). CONCLUSION: We have shown that patients with coronary artery ectasia have decreased nitrate-mediated response of brachial artery compared with patients with coronary artery disease alone, suggesting more severe dysfunction or, possibly, destruction of the media layer in coronary artery ectasia than in coronary artery disease.     

冠状动脉瘘的CT血管成像表现

目的 分析冠状动脉瘘的CT血管成像表现.方法 回顾性分析12717例行冠状动脉多排螺旋CT血管成像检查病例,其中诊断冠状动脉瘘66例.综合多种后处理图像,记录冠状动脉瘘的起源、瘘口、冠状动脉有无斑块及狭窄.其中14例患者行冠状动脉造影,比较两种检查方法结果的异同.结果 66例冠状动脉瘘中,起源于双侧冠状动脉21例,左冠状动脉26例,右冠状动脉19例;而瘘口在肺动脉41例,左心房10例,右心房8例,左心室4例,冠状静脉2例,右心室1例.14例患者冠状动脉造影显示的瘘管起源和瘘口部位均与多排螺旋CT血管成像一致.31例冠状动脉瘘同时伴冠状动脉斑块形成,其中狭窄程度≥50%者7例.结论 双侧冠状动脉起源的冠状动脉瘘并不少见,且瘘口在肺动脉者最多.CT血管成像可作为冠状动脉瘘的首选检查手段,可为该病的治疗提供重要的术前信息.

Abstract：

Objective To analyzed the computed tomography angiography (CTA) features of the coronary artery fistulas. Methods Sixty-six coronary artery fistulas were diagnosed out of 12 717 patients underwent the coronary artery multiple detector CTA examination. The origin and drainage site of the coronary artery fistulas and the plaque and stenosis of the coronary artery were observed by post-processing analysis on various images. Coronary artery angiography was performed in 14 out of 66 coronary artery fistulas patients. Results Coronary artery fistulas arose from bilateral coronary artery system in 21 cases, from left coronary artery in 26 cases and from right coronary artery in 19 cases. The majority of coronary artery fistulas entered into pulmonary artery (41 cases). The rest drainage sites included left atrium (10 cases), right atrium (8 cases),left ventricle (4 cases), coronary sinus (2 cases) and right ventricle (1 case). The findings of CTA and coronary artery angiography were consistent in 14 patients with DSA examination. Coronary artery plagues were evidenced in 31 cases and stenosis was greater than 50% in 7 coronary artery fistulas patients. Conclusions Multiple coronary artery fistulas are not rare, and pulmonary artery is the most frequent drainage site. When suspecting the coronary artery fistulas, coronary artery CTA can be the first choice of diagnose. CTA can supply adequate information for therapy.     

Vasoconstrictor activity of coronary sinus plasma from patients with coronary artery disease

Vasoactive properties of plasma samples taken from the coronary sinus, a systemic artery and the superior vena cava of 13 patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease and from 5 patients with normal coronary arteriograms were assayed in vitro by measurement of the changes in tension of rings of isolated canine coronary arteries. Addition of 1 ml samples of platelet-rich plasma from the coronary sinus of patients with coronary artery disease into a 20 ml organ bath induced an initial relaxation followed by sustained constriction in bioassay coronary artery rings with endothelium and only vasoconstriction in rings without endothelium. The vasoconstrictor activity of the coronary sinus plasma showed positive correlation with the severity and extent of coronary artery narrowing. Systemic arterial and venous plasma samples from patients with coronary artery disease and the coronary sinus plasma from patients with no coronary artery disease evoked only endothelium-dependent relaxations. These vasoactive properties of the various plasma samples were similar whether the samples were taken during rest or during supine bicycle exercise. The serotoninergic receptor antagonist methiothepin prevented the vasoconstriction induced by the coronary sinus plasma samples. These data demonstrate that the coronary sinus blood of patients with atheromatous coronary artery disease exhibits vasoconstrictor activity that may be associated with 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), presumably released from platelets.     

Early and mid-term angiographic assessment of internal thoracic artery grafts anastomosed to non-stenotic left anterior descending coronary arteries

BACKGROUND: Mild to moderately stenotic coronary arteries present a major problem as the progression of atherosclerosis is unpredictable. In addition, residual flow from the native coronary artery has been proposed as a mechanism that reduces blood flow in bypass grafts resulting in failure of the graft. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery for different reasons in three patients who underwent coronary arterial surgery, with stenosis of this coronary artery changing from none to 30%. Patients were monitored by coronary arteriography at different intervals postoperatively (from 6 days to 25 months) to assess the patency of the internal thoracic artery graft. RESULTS: Internal thoracic artery grafts were found to be patent in all coronary arteriographies during the follow-up period. Twenty-five months after surgery, one patient showed total occlusion of the native coronary artery which was previously normal. CONCLUSIONS: Competitive flow from the native coronary artery does not seem to influence internal thoracic artery patency when grafted to a normal or mildly stenotic left anterior descending coronary artery. This information could be of help in some patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with non-critical stenosis of this coronary artery. If the non-critical lesion is located proximally and if the patient has additional risk factors for coronary artery disease progression, prophylactic grafting of the left anterior descending coronary artery to the internal thoracic artery should be considered to prevent any future cardiac event, keeping in mind that this procedure may accelerate the progression of the native coronary artery disease.     

Distinguishing between anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk and dilated cardiomyopathy: role of echocardiographic measurement of the right coronary artery diameter.

Patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk usually have a large right coronary artery. This study examines the diagnostic value of measuring the diameter of the right coronary artery by echocardiography in distinguishing between this lesion and other causes of dilated cardiomyopathy. The diameter of the right coronary artery and the right coronary artery/aorta ratio were measured in the parasternal short axis view in 40 controls, 11 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and 10 with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. In the controls, the diameter of the right coronary artery increased with age, but the right coronary artery/aorta ratio remained constant. In the control group the 95% upper limits of prediction for right coronary artery diameter were 1.6 mm for one month of age, 1.8 mm for three months, 2.0 mm for one year, 2.2 mm for two years, 2.4 mm for three years, 2.6 mm for four years, 2.7 mm for six years, 3.0 mm for eight years, and 3.2 mm for 10 years; and for right coronary/aorta ratios the limits were 0.17 for one month to one year, 0.18 for one to six years, 0.19 for six to 10 years, and 0.20 for more than 10 years. All patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had normal right coronary artery diameters and right coronary artery/aorta ratios (0.10-0.13). Those patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk had larger than normal right coronary artery diameter and a significant increase in the right coronary artery/aorta ratio (0.21-0.29). The presence of an anomalous left coronary artery was likely if the diameter of the right coronary artery or the right coronary artery/aorta ratio was larger than the normal 95% limits of prediction.     

Distinguishing between anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk and dilated cardiomyopathy: role of echocardiographic measurement of the right coronary artery diameter

Patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk usually have a large right coronary artery. This study examines the diagnostic value of measuring the diameter of the right coronary artery by echocardiography in distinguishing between this lesion and other causes of dilated cardiomyopathy. The diameter of the right coronary artery and the right coronary artery/aorta ratio were measured in the parasternal short axis view in 40 controls, 11 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and 10 with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. In the controls, the diameter of the right coronary artery increased with age, but the right coronary artery/aorta ratio remained constant. In the control group the 95% upper limits of prediction for right coronary artery diameter were 1.6 mm for one month of age, 1.8 mm for three months, 2.0 mm for one year, 2.2 mm for two years, 2.4 mm for three years, 2.6 mm for four years, 2.7 mm for six years, 3.0 mm for eight years, and 3.2 mm for 10 years; and for right coronary/aorta ratios the limits were 0.17 for one month to one year, 0.18 for one to six years, 0.19 for six to 10 years, and 0.20 for more than 10 years. All patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had normal right coronary artery diameters and right coronary artery/aorta ratios (0.10-0.13). Those patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk had larger than normal right coronary artery diameter and a significant increase in the right coronary artery/aorta ratio (0.21-0.29). The presence of an anomalous left coronary artery was likely if the diameter of the right coronary artery or the right coronary artery/aorta ratio was larger than the normal 95% limits of prediction.     

Origin of all major coronary arteries from left sinus of Valsalva as a common coronary trunk: single coronary artery--a case report

Coronary anomalies are divergent and can occur in up to 1% to 2% of patients. The most common of these anomalies is separate ostia of the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, followed by origin of the circumflex coronary artery from the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva, either as a separate ostium or as a part of single coronary artery. Anomalous origin of right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva with a separate ostium or from the left main coronary artery is very rare. These coronary anomalies may be incidentally diagnosed on routine angiography or may present with myocardial ischemia, infarction, or sudden death. A case is described in which all 3 coronary arteries were originating from the left sinus of Valsalva as a common trunk (single coronary artery), which trifurcated to left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery.     

Decreased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with coronary artery ectasia compared with patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Although atherosclerosis is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary artery ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood. A histopathological examination of ectatic segments has revealed mainly destruction of the media layer of the artery. In the present study, we assessed carotid intima-media thickness and common carotid artery diameter in patients with and without coronary artery ectasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease and 35 age and sex-matched patients with coronary artery disease alone were included in the study. The common carotid artery was studied as the longitudinal plane within 10 mm from the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. The intima-media thickness was measured in the far wall at end-diastole from the B-mode screen to a point within the 10-mm segment proximal to the bifurcation by one investigator blinded to clinical data. RESULTS: No significant differences with respect to age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and smoking habits were observed between the two groups studied. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery of the patients with coronary artery ectasia was significantly lower than that of the patients with coronary artery disease alone (0.71 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.77 +/- 0.09 mm, respectively, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Decreased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery in patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease may have pathogenic mechanisms different from coronary artery disease per se.     

Evaluation of coronary artery anatomy in patients with tetralogy of Fallot by two-dimensional echocardiography

A major coronary artery crossing the right ventricular outflow tract in patients with tetralogy of Fallot interferes with a transannular patch, and preoperative detection of this artery is important. We evaluated the ability of two-dimensional echocardiography to define noninvasively the coronary artery anatomy in 37 consecutive patients (age range, 1 day to 18 years; mean age, 40.9 months). The origin and distribution of the right anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries, as well as any anteriorly coursing vessel, were examined from parasternal views. Complete studies were obtained in 29 (78%) of the 37 patients. Coronary artery anatomy was determined to be normal by echocardiography in 20 (69%) of the 29 patients. An anterior vessel across the right ventricular outflow tract was detected in the remaining nine patients. Six patients had an anterior descending artery from the left main coronary artery (paired anterior descending arteries in three patients, a right anterior descending artery from the left main coronary artery in two patients, and a right coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistula in one patient). Three patients had no anterior descending artery from the left main coronary artery (anterior descending artery from the right main coronary artery in two patients, and anterior descending and circumflex arteries from the right main coronary artery in one patient). Angiography, surgery, or autopsy confirmed the diagnoses in all but the final patient in whom the anterior descending artery arose from the right main coronary artery as observed at surgery, but the circumflex artery was not seen. Accurate evaluation of coronary artery anatomy is possible by echocardiography in the majority of patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Noninvasive identification of a major coronary artery coursing anteriorly can influence the timing of cardiac catheterization and surgery and the need for angiography.     

Coronary arteries from a single coronary ostium in the right coronary sinus: a previously unreported anatomy

The coronary circulation originating from a single coronary ostium is rare. All possible anatomical variations were the basis of a recent classification. This case report describes a previously unreported IID(1) pattern, comprising a solitary coronary ostium in the right coronary sinus with an anatomical course of the right coronary artery. The left circumflex coronary artery arises from the proximal right coronary artery coursing behind the aorta to the left. The left anterior descending coronary artery arises from the proximal right coronary artery coursing to the left side anterior to the right ventricle.     

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.     

冠状动脉造影中冠状动脉先天性变异的分析

目的:分析冠状动脉先天性变异的冠状动脉造影表现,探讨冠状动脉造影的诊断价值。方法:2003年1月～2007年12月在武汉钢铁公司总医院行冠状动脉造影的患者900例,对其结果进行回顾性分析。结果:共检出67例冠状动脉先天性变异,检出率为7.44%。其中检出冠状动脉瘘9例,检出率为1.00%,并以冠状动脉-右心室瘘最为多见。12例为冠状动脉起源和分布异常,占1.33%,并以右冠状动脉的先天性变异为多见。检出冠状动脉心肌桥(壁冠状动脉)46例,检出率为5.11%,并以左前降支心肌桥多见。结论:冠状动脉先天性变异的临床症状和体征多不典型或缺如,冠状动脉造影是确诊各种冠状动脉先天性变异的重要手段。     

Congenital coronary anomalies of origin and distribution in adults: a coronary arteriographic study

BACKGROUND: Coronary anomalies should be recognized to avoid problems during coronary intervention and cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 7400 coronary angiograms to find out the pattern and incidence of coronary anomalies of origin and distribution. We excluded patients with congenital heart diseases, coronary artery fistulae and patients with separate origin of the conus artery. and found 34 cases (0.46%) (22 males), mean age 50.7 +/- 12 years with coronary anomalies. Six cases underwent angiography prior to valve replacement and the rest were part of the evaluation for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The most common anomaly was separate origins of the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery [n=12 (35.3%)]. The next most common anomalies were origins of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus [n=7 (20.6%)] and left circumflex artery from the right sinus [n=6 (20%)]. A single coronary artery was seen in 3 cases (8.8%) which included one case of postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture with triple-vessel disease, and another with two small coronary fistulae. One case each of the following coronary anomalies was found: (i) double right coronary artery, (ii) left anterior descending coronary artery from the right coronary sinus, (iii) all three coronary arteries originating separately from the right sinus, and (iv) left main coronary artery from the right sinus. Of these 34 patients, 11 (32.4%) had significant atherosclerotic disease in the anomalous vessel. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of primary coronary anomaly seems to be less than that in earlier reports, but the pattern of anomalies appears to be similar.     

Single Coronary Artery: Right Coronary Artery Originated From Middle of Left Anterior Descending Artery in a Patient With Severe Mitral Regurgitation

The single coronary artery is a benign and very rare coronary artery abnormality. Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery originating from the left anterior descending artery has been reported previously in just a few cases. In this article, we presented a patient with an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the midportion of the left anterior descending artery. The anomalous coronary artery was discovered incidentally during a coronary angiography performed prior to mitral valve surgery. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in an Asymptomatic Adult

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly with a mortality of 90% in the first year of life, if not surgically corrected. Adult presentation of the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery syndrome is extremely rare but may occur if a well‐developed collateral circulation from right coronary artery is present. We present the case of a 22‐year‐old asymptomatic female with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.     

Coronary arterial fistulas: seven cases with unusual features

Seven patients with a coronary arterial fistula with unusual features are reported. Two patients had unusual anatomy of the coronary arteries, 1 with a single left coronary artery terminating in a fistula to the right ventricle, and 1 with a rudimentary left coronary artery terminating in a fistula to the pulmonary artery (simulating anomalous coronary artery from the pulmonary artery).