Prevalence and clinical significance of coronary artery ectasia (an angiographic study)

Abstract

Coronary cine-angiograms of 1,042 patients were reviewed for the presence of ectasia of major coronary arteries. Ectasia or irregular dilatation of the coronary artery was defined as 1.5 times diffuse or segmental dilatation as compared to segment of normal caliber coronary artery. Forty-one (3.9%) patients were found to have diffuse or localised coronary artery dilatations with segments of normal caliber throughout the length of major vessels. Mean age of the patients was 52 years, and majority were males (39, 95%). Right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex (Cx) were involved in 23 (56%) each, left anterior descending (LAD) in 15 (37%), obtuse marginal in 4 (10%) and left main in 2 (5%). Multiple vessel involvement was present in 21 (51%). Evidence of myocardial infarction was present in 21 (51%). Major risk factors were not different from the patients with coronary artery disease without ectasia.