Coronary artery caliber in normal children and patients with Kawasaki disease but without aneurysms: an echocardiographic and angiographic study

A total of 110 children aged 3 months to 16 years underwent two-dimensional echocardiography of the coronary arteries. Forty-two normal subjects and 68 patients with Kawasaki disease were evaluated. All 68 patients with Kawasaki disease underwent selective coronary arteriography. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop a normal profile of the proximal left and right coronary arteries as to caliber and shape in infants, toddlers and children using echocardiography; 2) compare the dimensions and shape of the coronary arteries of patients with Kawasaki disease but no obvious aneurysms with those of the coronary arteries of normal children; and 3) develop criteria that would permit distinguishing a large but normal coronary artery from a true aneurysm in patients with Kawasaki disease. In the normal subjects and patients with Kawasaki disease, the caliber of the coronary arteries showed little variability from the ostium to 10 mm distally, and ranged in size from 2 mm in infants to 5 mm in teenagers. There was no significant difference between male and female subjects. The feature that distinguished the large but normal coronary artery without aneurysm from that with an aneurysm was its uniformity of caliber. Also, the caliber of the opposite coronary artery was generally at the lower limits of normal. It appears that the proximal coronary arteries of infants and children can be accurately assessed using high resolution two-dimensional echocardiography, and that sequential evaluation of subtle changes over time may be performed.     

Distribution of acetylcholinesterase and cholineacetyl-transferase activities in coronary vessels of younger and older adults

Background:   The cholinergic nerve fibers of coronary arteries, capillaries and veins were studied in younger and older humans by staining of acetylcholinesterase and cholineacetyltransferase activities on autopsy samples of coronary vessels with the aim of investigating age-related changes.
Methods:   Samples of human coronary vessels were harvested and exposed to the enzymatic staining for acetylcholinesterase, immunohistochemical staining for cholineacetyltransferase and quantitative analysis of images. Morphometric values were subjected to statistical analysis of data.
Results:   Our results demonstrated that both acetylcholinesterase and cholineacetyltransferase are localized in the coronary vessels of younger and older humans. Staining of these two enzymes showed specific age-related changes. Structures resembling cholinergic nerve fibers were located in coronary vessels, in the extra-parenchymal (large caliber) and intraparenchymal (small caliber) branches (arteries and veins), organized in a plexus. Coronary arterioles of large caliber (diameter > 150 µm) were found to have many cholinergic nerve fibers. The quantitative analysis of images and the statistical analysis of the data demonstrated that the cholinergic neurotransmitters of coronary vessels (especially the extra-parenchymal branches of coronary arteries) strongly decrease with age.
Conclusions:   The age-related changes of cholinergic nerve supply of the human coronary vessels may play a role in the control of coronary circulation. Further studies are needed in order to draw definite conclusions concerning the nervous control of coronary circulation under normal and/or pathological conditions.     

Sodium nitroprusside as a coronary vasodilator in man. I. Effect of intracoronary sodium nitroprusside on coronary arteries, angina pectoris, and coronary blood flow.

The effect of the intra-arterial injection of 5 to 10 microng of sodium nitroprusside on the caliber of normal and diseased coronary arteries was evaluated in 21 patients during diagnostic cardiac catheterization. In addition, the effect of intra-graft injection of 5 microng of the same agent on the blood flow in aorta-right coronary artery saphenous vein bypass grafts was also evaluated intra-operatively in two patients. The compound induced an increase in the caliber of both normal and stenosed coronary arteries as well as an increase of flow in the grafts. Consistent with measurements of coronary flow response to sodium nitroprusside, angina pectoris which developed in four patients during cardiac catheterization was immediately relieved and the ischemic ST-segment depression significantly reversed after injection of 5 to 10 microng of the drug into the left main coronary artery. Within the dose range used, the drug caused no significant effect on systemic blood pressure or apparently deleterious electrophysiologic changes. No side effects were observed. We conclude that the primary direct action of sodium nitroprusside in the human coronary artery is vasodilatory.     

Vessel caliber and branch-angle of human coronary artery branch-points.

Measurements were made of parent and branch vessel diameters and of the included angles of branch-points from postmortem human coronary arteriograms to determine the usefulness of theoretical equations predicting the relationships between parent and branch vessel caliber and between arterial caliber and branch-angle. The formulas were based on the concept that blood vessel size and arrangement provided for blood flow with minimum energy loss. Size relationships between parent vessel and its branches were determined for 42 left main and 53 other epicardial coronary artery branch-points in hearts with angiographically normal arteries. Left main coronary artery branch-points were studied in 68 hearts with various degrees of angiographically defined coronary artery disease. Measured diameters (D) of parent and branch vessels corresponded well to the theoretical formula: (DParent)3 = (DBranch1)3 + (DBranch2)3....,in angiographically normal coronary arteries. The exponent, on the average, is less with increasing grades of vascular disease for left main coronary artery branch-points. Mean area ratio, the sum of the cross-sectional area of the branches divided by the area of parent vessel, decreased with greater arteriographic disease. Area ratio varies with changes in the relative calibers of branch vessels. Fifty-seven branch-angles were determined by graphic analysis of postmortem biplane coronary arteriograms. No relationship could be found between branch-angle and vessel caliber. The included angle between branches varied from 32 degrees to 124 degrees without respect to relative or absolute vessel calibers. The results of these postmortem measurements on human coronary arteriogram suggest that coronary artery caliber may adjust to minimize energy loss at the branch-point but that branch-angle is determined by other factors. Restudy of arteriograms suggests that branch-angle may be determined by branch vessel destination.     

Coronary and femoral arterial contraction with high glucose, insulin, and glucose-insulin-potassium solution: effects of hypoxia

We studied whether the contractile responses to potassium chloride (KCl) of rat coronary and femoral arteries differ when perfused with solutions containing varying concentrations of metabolic substrates (glucose, oxygen, insulin) and whether these differences might explain some of the beneficial effects of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK or polarizing) solution. We also studied the mediation of the endothelium on these effects. Contraction of femoral arteries decreased with low and high glucose while in coronary arteries it increased as the glucose concentrations rose. Endothelin receptor antagonists blocked this increase. The tension increase induced by insulin in both vessels was smaller in the coronary arteries. The ET_A receptor antagonist PD51242 blocked most of the insulin effect in the coronary arteries, whereas in the femoral arteries this was blocked by the ET_B receptor antagonist BQ788. Hypoxia blocked the constrictive responses to glucose and insulin of the coronary but not of the femoral arteries. GIK increased contractile force in hypoxic femoral arteries but reduced that in coronary arteries. The contractile response decreased by GIK in hypoxic coronary arteries was restored by N ^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, suggesting mediation by nitric oxide. We conclude that in the presence of high glucose and/or insulin levels, coronary arteries respond to KCl differently from femoral arteries; their behavior during hypoxia might explain some of the beneficial effects of GIK. Received: April 23, 2001 / Accepted: September 22, 2001     

Associations between retinal microvascular structure and the severity and extent of coronary artery disease

Objective

Microvascular mechanisms are increasingly recognized as being involved in a significant proportion of coronary artery disease (CAD) cases, but their exact contribution or role is unclear. We aimed to define the association between retinal microvascular signs and both CAD extent and severity.

Methods

1120 participants of the Australian Heart Eye Study were included. Retinal vessel caliber was measured from digital retinal images. Extent and severity of CAD was assessed using several approaches. First, a simple scoring classifying participants as having one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel disease was used. Gensini and Extent scores were calculated using angiography findings.

Results

After multivariable adjustment, significantly narrower retinal arteriolar caliber in women (comparing lowest versus highest quartile or reference) and wider venular caliber in men (comparing highest versus lowest quartile or reference) were associated with 2-fold and 54% higher odds of having at least one stenosis ≥50% in the epicardial coronary arteries, respectively. Women in the third versus first tertile of retinal venular caliber had 92% and ∼2-fold higher likelihood of having higher Gensini and Extent scores, respectively. Women in the lowest versus highest tertile of retinal arteriolar caliber had greater odds of having higher Extent scores, OR 2.99 (95% CI 1.45–6.16). In men, non-significant associations were observed between retinal vascular caliber and Gensini and Extent scores.

Conclusions

An unhealthy retinal microvascular profile, namely, narrower retinal arterioles and wider venules was associated with more diffuse and severe CAD among women.     

经皮冠状动脉内多普勒超声技术对冠状动脉血液动力学的研究

目的 :评价冠状动脉 (冠脉 )内多普勒血流钢丝测量冠脉血流速度和血流储备 (CFR)的应用价值。　　方法 :在 2 1例冠脉狭窄患者 (冠脉狭窄组 )和 12例正常冠脉者 (对照组 )中 ,利用冠脉内多普勒血流钢丝和冠脉内注射罂粟碱测量了冠脉的血流速度和 CFR。　　结果 :左前降支冠脉狭窄远端的平均最大血流速度、舒张期最大血流速度、舒张期与收缩期流速比值和 CFR均显著低于对照组测值。　　结论 :应用冠脉内多普勒超声技术可准确测量正常和冠脉狭窄患者的冠脉血流速度和 CFR,冠脉内注射罂粟碱安全、可靠 ,这一方法的临床应用对冠心病患者冠脉血液动力学的评价提供了可靠的方法。     

Coronary arterial narrowing in Takayasu's aortitis.

A patient with Takayasu's aortitis and angina pectoris due to severe narrowing of the right and left coronary arterial ostia is described. Takayasu's arteritis produces a panaortitis, with thickening of the adventitia predominating, and an inflammatory cell infiltrate involving the adventitia, outer media and vasa vasorum. Narrowing of the coronary arteries in this disease is due to extension into these arteries of the processes of proliferation of the intima and contraction of the fibrotic media and adventitia that occur in the aorta. The distal coronary arteries usually do not manifest arteritis and are normal in caliber. Angina pectoris may be the first symptom of the disease if the coronary arteries are the initial site of severe arterial narrowing. The coronary arterial bypass graft operation is effective therapy for treating coronary arterial narrowing due to Takayasu's arteritis.     

Double left anterior descending coronary artery arising from the left and right coronary arteries: a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly

Double left anterior descending coronary artery arising from the left and right coronary arteries is a very rare congenital coronary artery anomaly. In this report, we describe a patient with double left anterior descending coronary artery originating from the left and right coronary arteries. To the best of our knowledge, dual connection of the left anterior descending coronary artery to the left and right coronary arteries has been described in only five patients.     

冠状动脉造影术前应用高频超声评价桡尺动脉的价值

目的:探讨高频超声在冠状动脉造影术前评价桡尺动脉的价值。方法:2008年12月至2009年6月我院心内科住院患者150例在冠状动脉造影术前行双侧桡、尺动脉的彩色多普勒超声检查,检查范围包括双侧桡动脉、尺动脉、肱动脉及腋动脉。结果:150例受检者上肢动脉变异及不同程度的走行迂曲12例,管径纤细2例。走行异常及迂曲的12例中有11例成功进行了经右桡动脉冠状动脉造影术,1例行经左桡动脉冠状动脉造影术,另外管径纤细2例进行了经股动脉冠状动脉造影术。结论:冠状动脉造影术前应用高频超声检测桡尺动脉,可以为临床选择穿刺途径提供依据,提高穿刺、插管及导丝行进的成功率。     

Does Coronary Artery Size Really Matter?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ischemia in right ventricle (RV) in patients with small caliber of right coronary artery (RCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 60 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography within 3 months. The patients were divided into three different groups according to lumen diameter of RCA and coronary dominance. Group 1, 2, and 3 consisted of patients with small diameter of RCA, dominant RCA, and dominant circumflex artery, respectively. RV ischemia was assessed by using pulse-wave tissue Doppler sampling obtained from RV free wall close to the lateral tricuspid annulus at the apical four-chamber view during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). RESULTS: When the mean systolic velocity percentages of increase from low to peak dose dobutamine in patients with small RCA were compared to those of other groups, statistically significant difference was found between group 1 and the other groups (P = 0.007 for group 1 vs group 2; P = 0.01 for group 1 vs group 3). The mean systolic velocity at peak dobutamine dose of patients with small caliber of right coronary artery was statistically lower than the other groups (P = 0.001 for group 1 vs group 2, P < 0.001 group 1 vs group 3). CONCLUSIONS: There are a group of patients with small diameter of RCA causing probable ischemia in RV and small caliber of RCA can really matter in these patients.     

冠状动脉正常的急性Q波性心肌梗死单中心回顾性分析

目的 回顾性分析冠状动脉正常的急性Q波性心肌梗死患者的临床特点.方法 选取中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院确诊为急性心肌梗死,合并心电图病理性Q波形成,并经冠状动脉造影证实冠状动脉正常的患者17例,分析其临床特点.结果 本研究中,4例患者有自发性冠状动脉痉挛,表现为冠状动脉造影时严重狭窄但冠状动脉内给予硝酸甘油后狭窄消失.1例女性患者既往有下肢动脉栓塞病史,经血液系统进一步检查证实为蛋白C缺乏症.1例患者为粒细胞增多症,3例患者为血小板增多症.另有1例患者有肺癌病史,考虑可能与肺癌相关的高凝状态有关.急性Q波性心肌梗死但罪犯冠状动脉正常的患者占同期急性心肌梗死患者比例为1.85％（17/918）.此类患者平均年龄为44.2岁,男性为主,占88.2％（15/17）,吸烟比例高达82.4％（14/17）,其中吸烟患者中男性达92.9％（13/14）,与非冠状动脉正常的急性Q波性心肌梗死患者比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）.急性Q波性心肌梗死但罪犯冠状动脉正常的患者左心室射血分数显著高于冠状动脉造影异常组（54.4％±9.6％ vs.45.8％±8.8％,P＜0.01）.另外,造影正常组所有患者住院期间均未发生主要心血管事件,而造影异常组主要心血管事件发生率为6.7％（60/901）.结论 急性心肌梗死但冠状动脉正常患者以男性为主,多有吸烟史,同时合并有血液系统疾病者较多见,但大部分心功能状态良好,住院期间未见严重主要心血管事件.     

Presence of Anomalous Coronary Seen on Angiogram Is Not Associated with Increased Risk of Significant Coronary Artery Disease

It is unclear if anomalous coronary arteries are at higher risk for atherosclerosis. The link between anomalous coronary artery and early coronary artery disease has been suggested. The aim of this study is to determine whether the coronary artery anomaly predisposes to development of significant coronary disease. Using retrospective chart review, patients with documented anomalous coronary arteries recognized during coronary angiography between years 2000 to 2007 were analyzed. Prevalence of significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (defined as more than 50% luminal narrowing) was compared between normal and anomalous coronaries. A total of 147 patients with anomalous coronary arteries were found. Right coronary artery was the most common anomalous artery 128 of 148 (86.5%) in our dataset. There was no difference in the occurrence of atherosclerosis between anomalous and nonanomalous coronaries. Significant atherosclerosis was present in 59 of the 148 anomalous coronary arteries (37.8%), and 112 of the 293 nonanomalous coronary arteries (38.2%, p = 0.9). On the basis of our study, there is no evidence that anomalous coronary arteries predispose to significant coronary artery disease in comparison to normal coronary arteries.     

Coronary artery rupture during transluminal coronary recanalization and angioplasty in a case of acute myocardial infarction and shock

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a widely performed and effective therapy for coronary artery disease. Evolution of the dilatation instruments during the last decade has led to an increased success rate of PTCA and to the development of newer techniques such as recanalization of totally occluded coronary arteries. We report a case of coronary artery recanalization complicated by fatal coronary artery rupture.     

Impact of vessel calcification on outcomes after coronary stenting

BACKGROUND: Calcified coronary arteries have few viable smooth muscle cells capable of proliferating, and, subsequently, might exhibit less in-stent restenosis. We therefore studied the outcome of stenting in patients with different amounts of coronary calcification. METHODS: Six hundred twenty-one patients who underwent bare metal stenting of calcific native coronary arteries were studied retrospectively. Pre- and postinterventional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and qualitative and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) were performed in 662 lesions. The arc of calcium was measured, and arteries were grouped (A, B, C, and D) according to the calcium arc in IVUS (0-90 degrees , 91-180 degrees , 181-270 degrees , and 271-360 degrees , respectively). Arteries with a superficial calcium arc of < or =270 degrees (Group E) were compared to arteries with >270 degrees calcification (Group F). RESULTS: Clinical and lesion characteristics were similar, and the major complication rate was low (1.9%) in all groups. In Groups A, B, C, and D, patients with more calcific arteries had more non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) (P=.04-.002). Patients in Group F (more extensive superficial calcification) had an increased frequency of non-Q-wave MI compared to Group E. Malapposition of stents to vessel wall and use of rotational atherectomy were more frequent in Group F (P=.001). Late events including death, MI, and revascularization with either coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were not different among the groups. Extensive calcification of coronary arteries is associated with more frequent peri-procedural non-Q-wave MI. CONCLUSION: Despite the scarcity of viable cells, the late event rate in severely calcified arteries is not different from mildly calcified arteries. This may be due to more frequent malapposition of stents to vessel wall and augmented trauma during PCI in severely calcified arteries.     

Successful transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistula in a child with single coronary artery: A heavy load and a long road

Single coronary artery is an uncommon variation of the coronary circulation. After transposition of great arteries, coronary artery fistulas are the most common associated cardiac anomalies in these patients. Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistula (CAF) involving single coronary artery is a challenging intervention. In the absence of contralateral coronary artery, a complex anatomy of the CAF and a large myocardial perfusion territory of the dominant circulation pose an additional risk during interventional procedure. We report our experience of a successful transcatheter closure of a coronary artery fistula in a patient with single coronary artery. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

成人冠状动脉左前降支粥样硬化斑块中检测出肺炎衣原体

为了探索肺炎衣原体感染和冠状动脉粥样硬化之间的关系、利用肺炎衣原体主要外膜蛋白基因上的保守序列设计的3条引物，通过多聚酶链反应检测32例冠状动脉左前降支粥样硬化斑块以及7例正常冠状动脉左前降支中肺炎衣原体。结果发现，32例有粥样硬化斑块的冠状动脉左前降支中有14例多聚酶链反应阳性．阳性率为43．75％，7例正常冠状动脉中无一例阳性，阳性率为0％。结果提示肺炎衣原体在有粥样硬化冠状动脉和正常冠状动豚中存在显著差异。     

Combined dissection of the right coronary artery and right coronary cusp during coronary angiography

Dissection of coronary arteries during diagnostic coronary angiography is infrequent; dissection of the coronary cusp is extremely rare. The combination of coronary artery and coronary cusp dissection has not been reported previously. A case of right coronary artery dissection and right coronary cusp dissection during diagnostic coronary angiography is described. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Proximal Coronary Artery Stenosis in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death worldwide. It encompasses several clinical entities, including coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. Because the underlying pathophysiological mechanism is the same, coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease frequently coexist. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is routinely done in patients with ischemic stroke to exclude possible cardiac sources of cerebral embolism. Since the introduction of multiplane transesophageal transducers, it has become easier to visualize the proximal coronary arteries during transesophageal examinations. We report three cases in which routine TEE for ischemic stroke revealed significant coronary artery disease that was not previously suspected. In one patient, the stroke was so severe that further evaluation of the coronary artery disease was not deemed useful. The other two patients underwent coronary angiography based on the echocardiographic findings, confirming the lesions noted on the echocardiogram. Subsequently, both patients were successfully revascularized: one by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and the other by coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We conclude that the examination of coronary arteries during routine TEE for ischemic stroke may become a useful screening tool for the detection of coexisting, asymptomatic, significant proximal coronary artery disease.     

QRS波时限延长在冠心病患者运动试验中的意义

目的　探讨冠心病患者运动试验中QRS波时限变化的意义。方法　分析经冠状动脉造影 (冠脉 )证实的6 2例冠心病患者和 16例冠脉造影正常者运动试验前后QRS波时限变化。结果　冠脉正常组运动后QRS波时限较运动前缩短 (P <0 0 5 ) ;冠心病组运动后QRS波时限变化较运动前延长 (P <0 0 1) ;以运动后QRS波时限延长判断为异常 ,诊断冠心病的敏感性为 72 6 % ,特异性为 93 8% ,准确性为97 8%。结论　冠心病患者运动后QRS波时限延长是心肌缺血的一个标志 ,QRS波时限可能是运动试验中诊断冠心病心肌缺血敏感而特异的指标。