CORONARY-ARTERY SHAPE AND FLOW CHANGES INDUCED BY MYOCARDIAL BRIDGING - ASSESSMENT BY INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND

Changes in coronary shape and blood flow induced by myocardial bridging were analyzed in a 56-year-old patient with symptoms of unstable angina after the exclusion of other heart disease. Coronary angiography demonstrated a 1.8-cm long myocardial bridge in the middle part of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In systole, an eccentric compression of the artery occurred, resulting in a stenosis that occupied 86% of the diameter and 96% of the area. Intraluminal ultrasound was performed with a 20-MHz transducer in a 4.8-Fr catheter sheath (Boston Scientific Corp.) connected to an ultrasound console (Diasonics Inc.). A side saddle catheter was introduced into the left anterior descending coronary artery via a giant guiding catheter. A circular shape with typical systolic pulsation was seen in the proximal part of the artery (maximal and minimal diameters 3.6 mm and 3.5 mm, respectively). Distally an eccentric compression of the coronary artery was visualized, decreasing one diameter from 3.0 to 2.6 mm, whereas the orthogonal diameter remained constant at 3.3 mm. The myocardial bridge compressed 160-degrees-180-degrees of the circumference of the artery, leading to a change from a circular to an elliptical arterial shape. A delayed relaxation of the bridging was demonstrated. Only the proximal part of the vessel in the muscle bridge could be passed. Coronary flow was measured using a Doppler 3-Fr 20-MHz catheter (Millar Instruments Inc.) using a pulse repetition rate of 62.5 kHz. Coronary flow velocity was calculated in the proximal part of the left anterior descending coronary artery before and after intracoronary injection of 10 mg papaverine. Phasic coronary flow velocity increased from 14 to 21 cm/sec and mean flow from 6 to 13.5 cm/sec, yielding an estimated flow reserve of 1.5 and 2.2, respectively (normal > 3.0). Thus, intravascular and Doppler ultrasound are useful techniques for analyzing the effect of myocardial bridging on changes in coronary shape and blood flow. An eccentric compression of the coronary artery was visualized with delayed relaxation. Coronary flow reserve was reduced. Further studies in larger patient populations are necessary to demonstrate whether reduction of coronary flow reserve is, in general, related to delayed relaxation in diastole.