Coronary artery ectasia: angiographic, clinical profile and follow-up

Out of 3200 coronary angiograms we reviewed, there were 144 cases of coronary ectasia--an incidence of 4.5 percent. Among these, 122 were associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, i.e. coronary stenosis more than 50 percent (group A) and 22 not associated with coronary artery disease (group B). The patients in groups A and B were compared with age- and sex-matched patients (group C) (n=100) who had coronary artery disease alone without ectasia. The incidence of ectasia was not increased in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm i.e. 2/154 (1.8%) or in patients with peripheral occlusive vascular disease i.e. 5/161 (3.1%). Ectasia was typed according to a modified version of the criteria proposed by Markis et al. Type II was the commonest, followed by type I, III and IV. Right coronary artery was the most commonly involved vessel by ectasia followed by left circumflex, left anterior descending artery and left main coronary artery. Diffuse ectasia was seen more frequently in right coronary artery and localised ectasia in left anterior descending artery. Patients in groups A and B had similar epidemiological characteristics, though more patients with ectasia alone (group B) had better left ventricular function and negative stress tests. The patients in group A had a similar incidence of previous myocardial infarction, coronary risk factor profile, treadmill exercise test status and severity of coronary artery disease when compared to group C. On a mean follow-up of 3+/-1.2 years, all the three groups had similar event rates.