Characteristics Of Myocardial Bridging Research Articles

Myocardial Bridging in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography for Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction Myocardial bridge is a rare, benign, normal anatomical variant of the coronary artery that puts the patient at risk for significant cardiac symptoms, resulting in myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging (MB) in patients with chest pain undergoing coronary angiography. Methodology A total of 1301 patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome with associated non-invasive supportive cardiac evaluation were subjected to coronary angiography by Philips Allura Xper FD10 Cath Lab (Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA)and evaluated. Results Out of 1301 patients, the mean age was 54.70 ± 11.41 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.9:1. Tobacco use and diabetes mellitus were the most common associated risk factors (49% and 44%, respectively). MBwas seen in 51 patients, making the prevalence 3.9%, with male predominance over females in the ratio of 3.9:1. The most common clinical presentation was unstable angina (UA) (n = 22, 43.1%), followed by stable angina (SA) (n = 11, 21.6%), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (n = 10, 19.6%), and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (n = 8, 15.7%). Myocardial bridgeswere more common among patients with stable coronary artery disease. The left anterior descending artery (n = 51, 3.9%) was involved in all the cases and the middle segment was affected in all patients with MB.Among patients with myocardial bridge, 26 patients (51%) had atherosclerosis and 25 patients had a normal artery. Among patients with myocardial bridge with atherosclerosis, 17 patients (65%) had atherosclerosis in the same artery in which the myocardial bridge was present. Among patients with myocardial bridge with atherosclerosis, nine patients (52%) had atherosclerosis proximal to the bridge, three patients (17%) had atherosclerosis distal to the bridge, and five patients (31%) had atherosclerosis both proximal and distal to the bridge. Conclusion The prevalence of MB in the Indian population is significantly lower than in the Western populations, and it is significantly higher in the male population with patients diagnosed as normal coronaries on coronary angiography.

P845Incidence and OCT characteristics of myocardial bridge and its cyclic changes

P845Incidence and OCT characteristics of myocardial bridge and its cyclic changes

Abstract 16646: Invasive Assessment of Myocardial Bridging in Women and Men Presenting With Angina in the Absence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction: Up to 20% of patients with angina undergoing coronary angiography have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Myocardial bridging, while common in the population, is a potential cause of angina in this subset of patients. Hypothesis: We studied sex differences in the structural and hemodynamic characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients with angina in the absence of obstructive CAD. Methods: We identified a myocardial bridge (MB) in the left anterior descending artery by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in 62 women and 24 men with angina in the absence of obstructive CAD. A MB was defined as an echolucent half-moon sign and/or ≥10% systolic compression. We evaluated MB-related parameters, including total MB length, % arterial compression, and halo thickness, as well as minimum lumen area and plaque burden. Hemodynamic testing of the MB was performed using an intracoronary pressure/Doppler flow wire at rest and during dobutamine stress. We calculated diastolic fractional flow reserve (dFFR) (the ratio of diastolic intracoronary pressure divided by aortic pressure), as well as peak Doppler flow velocity. An abnormal dFFR was defined as ≤0.76 during dobutamine stress. Results: When compared with women, men had a longer length of myocardial bridging, more systolic compression, and a greater plaque burden proximal to the MB. There was no difference in halo thickness or MLA. There was also no sex difference in the dFFR or peak Doppler velocity change with stress (figure). Conclusions: While women are more likely than men to have angina in the absence of obstructive CAD, in patients with a MB as a possible cause of their angina, men have a longer length of bridge, more systolic compression, and greater plaque burden proximal to the MB than women. Interestingly, these more severe MB features in men do not result in more hemodynamic significance. Further research is needed to understand this sex difference.

Relationship Between Myocardial Bridging and Coronary Arteriosclerosis

The objective of the study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent coronary angiography and to also evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis. For this purpose, clinical materials of 1,500 patients who had received coronary angiography were retrospectively analyzed. The location and length of the myocardial bridge were recorded as well as the extent and location of coronary artery stenosis was described. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for coronary arteriosclerosis as were the remaining coronary segments. We found that myocardial bridging was present in 179 (11.9 %) patients. Bridges were frequently (84.9 %) localized in the mid-distal segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Myocardial bridging was not considered a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio 0.58) compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The incidence of coronary arteriosclerosis in the distal segments was significantly less affected than the proximal segments (P < 0.01). It was, therefore, concluded that myocardial bridging frequently localized in the mid-distal segment of the LAD artery. The presence of myocardial bridging promotes proximal atherosclerosis but it is not an additional risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis.

Prevalence of myocardial bridging and correlation with coronary atherosclerosis studied with 64-slice CT coronary angiography

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) and to evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis. A total of 277 patients (mean age 60+/-11 years) we consecutively examined with 64-slice MSCT-CA for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis were retrospectively reviewed for myocardial bridging. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for atherosclerotic plaque, as were the remaining coronary segments. Myocardial bridging was present in 82 patients (30%, mean age 59+/-12). Bridges were of variable length (<1 cm 58%; 1-2 cm 32%; >2 cm 10%) and depth (superficial 69%, intramyocardial 31%) and frequently localised in the mid-distal segment of the left anterior descending artery (95%). Myocardial bridging cannot be considered a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio 0.49) compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary segments proximal to the bridge showed no atherosclerotic disease (33%), positive remodelling (27%), <50% stenosis (20%) or >50% stenosis (20%). We identified 12 noncalcified, 32 mixed and 17 calcified plaques. The distal segments were significantly less affected (p<0.0001). MSCT-CA is a reliable, noninvasive method that is able to depict myocardial bridging and associated atherosclerotic plaque in the proximal segments.

Evaluation of myocardial bridges with 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography

Objective — The aim of this study is to report the characteristics of myocardial bridging (MB) using 64-slice computed tomography and to demonstrate the association between atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) and MB.Methods and results — In 990 consecutive patients who underwent multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary artery disease, myocardial bridge evaluation was performed with axial, curved multiplanar reconstruction and three-dimensional volume-rendered images.265 bridged segments were identified in 223 (22.5%) patients. Multiple MBs on left coronary arteries were found in 41patients. Most of the MBs were in the LAD (62.6%), followed by the obtuse marginal artery (14.7%) and diagonal artery (14.3%). The average length of MBs was 14±7mm, and the average depth was 1.6±1.1mm.No significant difference was observed between patients with and without MB on the middle LAD in respect of age, gender, prevalence of diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, current smoking and prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques at the proximal LAD. On the other hand, prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques at the distal LAD were significantly lower in patients with MB on the middle LAD (3.5% vs. 19.7%, P: 0.0001).Conclusions — The presence and morphological characteristics of MB and its relation with atherosclerotic plaques in the involved coronary artery can be comprehensively analysed with 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography.Atherosclerosis is a common finding in segments proximal to MB, but the prevalence of plaques in equivalent segments (proximal LAD in our study) is not higher than in patients under similar coronary artery disease risk and without MB. On the other hand, prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques at the distal LAD was significantly lower in our patients with MB on the middle LAD. Finally, we suggest that rather than causing proximal atherosclerosis, MB might have a more important role in the protection of distal segments of the bridged arteries from atherosclerosis.

Myocardial Bridging

To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent single- or dual-source multidetector cardiac computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA). Retrospective review of the imaging characteristics of 57 myocardial bridges in 53 patients who underwent cardiac MDCTA examinations was performed. The prevalence of myocardial bridges was 10.4%, most of which were located in the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery. The average myocardial bridge length was 23.4 mm, and the average tunneled artery depth was 2.6 mm. Myocardial bridges are commonly found in patients who undergo cardiac multidetector computed tomographic angiograms on both single- and dual-source computed tomographic scanners and are most frequently located in the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery. Increasing utilization of cardiac MDCTA for noninvasive evaluation of coronary artery disease permits recognition, characterization, and functional assessment of this entity in a single examination.

Evaluation of Myocardial Bridging of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery by 64-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomographic Angiography

The purpose of this study was to use the unique characteristics of multidetector computed tomographic coronary angiography to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging (MB) in a large series of patients and to assess the relation between atherosclerosis and MB. Three hundred consecutive coronary angiograms obtained by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography were evaluated retrospectively. For comparison of symptoms and concomitant atherosclerosis, 245 patients were included in the study and categorized into group 1 (n = 108) with MB and group 2 (n = 137) with no MB in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Axial and multiplanar reformatted images of all arteries were analyzed for the presence of measurable obstructive coronary disease (>25% stenosis) and minor luminal (<25% stenosis) calcified and noncalcified plaque and for MB in the LAD. Longitudinal and cross-sectional views were used for MB measurements. MB was found in 44% of patients (108 of 245) and was present equally in men and women (45% and 41%, p = NS). The mid LAD was the most common location (66%, p <0.001). There were no atherosclerotic lesions within the MB segments. The presence of MB did not influence the presence or severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the nonbridged segments of the LAD. In conclusion, MB as demonstrated by 64-slice multidetector computed tomographic coronary angiography is more common than previously reported by coronary angiography. The bridged segment appears to be free of atherosclerosis.