-
Journal of the American College of... Sep 2023Angina with nonobstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) is increasingly recognized and may affect nearly one-half of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography for... (Review)
Review
Angina with nonobstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) is increasingly recognized and may affect nearly one-half of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography for suspected ischemic heart disease. This working diagnosis encompasses coronary microvascular dysfunction, microvascular and epicardial spasm, myocardial bridging, and other occult coronary abnormalities. Patients with ANOCA often face a high burden of symptoms and may experience repeated presentations to multiple medical providers before receiving a diagnosis. Given the challenges of establishing a diagnosis, patients with ANOCA frequently experience invalidation and recidivism, possibly leading to anxiety and depression. Advances in scientific knowledge and diagnostic testing now allow for routine evaluation of ANOCA noninvasively and in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with coronary function testing (CFT). CFT includes diagnostic coronary angiography, assessment of coronary flow reserve and microcirculatory resistance, provocative testing for endothelial dysfunction and coronary vasospasm, and intravascular imaging for identification of myocardial bridging, with hemodynamic assessment as needed.
Topics: Humans; Microcirculation; Myocardial Bridging; Myocardial Ischemia; Angina Pectoris; Coronary Angiography
PubMed: 37704315
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.06.043 -
Journal of the American College of... Sep 2023Centers specializing in coronary function testing are critical to ensure a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of angina with nonobstructive coronary... (Review)
Review
Centers specializing in coronary function testing are critical to ensure a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of angina with nonobstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA). Management leveraging lifestyle, pharmacology, and device-based therapeutic options for ANOCA can improve angina burden and quality of life in affected patients. Multidisciplinary care teams that can tailor and titrate therapies based on individual patient needs are critical to the success of comprehensive programs. As coronary function testing for ANOCA is more widely adopted, collaborative research initiatives will be fundamental to improve ANOCA care. These efforts will require standardized symptom assessments and data collection, which will propel future large-scale clinical trials.
Topics: Humans; Program Development; Quality of Life; Angina Pectoris; Coronary Vessels; Life Style
PubMed: 37704316
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.06.044 -
Heart (British Cardiac Society) Dec 2023Myocardial bridging is a common anatomical variant in which a major epicardial coronary artery takes an intramyocardial course, leading to dynamic systolic compression.... (Review)
Review
Myocardial bridging is a common anatomical variant in which a major epicardial coronary artery takes an intramyocardial course, leading to dynamic systolic compression. Because coronary perfusion occurs primarily during diastole, most patients with this anatomical variant have no associated perfusion abnormalities or symptoms. Despite this, there is a subset of patients with myocardial bridging who experience ischaemic symptoms. Determining which anatomical variants are benign and which are clinically relevant remains a challenge. Further complicating the picture, functional factors such as diastolic dysfunction and coronary vasospasm may exacerbate myocardial bridging-related ischaemia. In patients with ischaemic symptoms in the absence of alternative explanations, a detailed assessment of myocardial bridging with invasive physiology should be performed to define the significance of the lesion and guide tailored medical therapy. Patients with refractory symptoms despite maximally tolerated medical therapy should be considered for surgical coronary unroofing.
Topics: Humans; Myocardial Bridging; Heart; Coronary Angiography
PubMed: 37344169
DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321586 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Feb 2024
Topics: Humans; Coronary Angiography; Myocardial Bridging; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38294977
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm2307383 -
Cureus Aug 2023Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital coronary artery anomaly involving an overlying myocardium's partial or complete encasement of a coronary artery segment. The... (Review)
Review
Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital coronary artery anomaly involving an overlying myocardium's partial or complete encasement of a coronary artery segment. The obstruction can lead to significant cardiac symptoms, resulting in myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death. Several approaches, including invasive and non-invasive methods, have been proposed to diagnose and manage MB. Invasive modalities, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and coronary angiography, offer high specificity and sensitivity. In contrast, non-invasive methods like Doppler ultrasound, multislice computed tomography (MSCT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are advantageous due to their non-invasive nature, high sensitivity and specificity, and cost-effectiveness. Treatment options for MB mainly focus on relieving symptoms and preventing adverse outcomes. The use of pharmacological agents and surgical and percutaneous interventions has been documented in numerous studies. Studies conclude that MB is a treatable cardiac anomaly, and a combined approach of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up is necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.
PubMed: 37692750
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43132 -
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine Jan 2024Myocardial bridging (MB) is a common congenital abnormality that remains asymptomatic in a large proportion of patients. The peak of clinical manifestation occurs during... (Review)
Review
Myocardial bridging (MB) is a common congenital abnormality that remains asymptomatic in a large proportion of patients. The peak of clinical manifestation occurs during the third and fourth decades of life. MB provokes myocardial ischemia through different mechanisms including supply-demand mismatch, endothelial dysfunction, coronary microvascular dysfunction and external mechanical compression. The association between MB and atherosclerotic disease is controversial. Recent studies established a significant association of MB with myocardial infarction and non-obstructive coronary artery disease. The first line medical treatment is based on beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Ivabradine is used in second line therapy. Invasive approaches involving percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft and myotomy are performed in patients with symptoms refractory to maximally tolerated medical treatment. The choice of revascularization technique depends on anatomical characteristics, clinical condition and physician experience. Available data derived from anecdotal evidence view the lack of randomized clinical trials.
Topics: Humans; Myocardial Bridging; Coronary Artery Disease; Myocardial Ischemia; Coronary Artery Bypass; Myocardial Infarction; Coronary Angiography
PubMed: 35697237
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2022.06.002 -
Morphologie : Bulletin de L'Association... Dec 2023Myocardial bridging (MB) is a coronary anomaly in which a segment of the coronary artery is overlapped by a layer of myocardial tissue. Nowadays, there is no scientific... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Myocardial bridging (MB) is a coronary anomaly in which a segment of the coronary artery is overlapped by a layer of myocardial tissue. Nowadays, there is no scientific agreement on if the MB are congenital or acquired or on the factors that determine their presence and/or absence.
OBJECTIVE
This study is performed to analyze the anatomical characteristics of adult and children's hearts regarding the shape of the left coronary artery branching, presence of pre-bridge arterial branch, coronary dominance and its correlations to MB formation.
METHODS
We analyzed 240 adults heart specimens and 63 children's specimens. The frequency of the myocardial bridges (MB) occurrence was performed through observational study of the anatomical specimens. The shape of the left coronary artery (LCA) branching, presence of pre-bridge arterial branch (PBB) and coronary dominance was determined superficial dissection of the epicardial adipose tissue and careful evaluation of the hearts.
RESULTS
A relation between the trifurcated pattern of the LCA and the presence of MB (P<0.0001, odds ratio=3.74) was found in adults heart and in children's hearts (P=0.003, odds ratio=16.0), as well as a relation between the presence of PBB and the presence of MB in adult hearts (P<0.0001) and children's hearts (P<0.0001).
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest for the first time that the myocardial bridges are related to the presence of trifurcation of the left coronary artery and the pre-bridge arterial branch in adult and children's hearts.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Myocardium; Myocardial Bridging; Dissection
PubMed: 37246099
DOI: 10.1016/j.morpho.2023.05.002 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia Sep 2023
Topics: Humans; Myocardial Bridging
PubMed: 37672467
DOI: 10.36660/abc.20230426 -
BMC Medicine Feb 2024Myocardial bridging (MB) is common in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). There are sparse data on the impact of MB on myocardial fibrosis in HCM. This...
BACKGROUND
Myocardial bridging (MB) is common in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). There are sparse data on the impact of MB on myocardial fibrosis in HCM. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between MB and myocardial fibrosis in patients with obstructive HCM.
METHODS
In this cohort study, retrospective data were collected from a high-volume HCM center. Patients with obstructive HCM who underwent septal myectomy and preoperative cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were screened from 2011 to 2018.
RESULTS
Finally, 492 patients were included in this study, with an average age of 45.7 years. Of these patients, 76 patients had MB. MB occurred mostly in the left anterior descending artery (73/76). The global extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was correlated with the degree of systolic compression (r = 0.33, p = 0.003). Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that the degree of systolic compression was an independent risk factor for LGE (β = 0.292, p = 0.007). The LGE fraction of basal and mid anteroseptal segments in patients with severe MB (compression ratio ≥ 80%) was significantly greater than that in patients with mild to moderate MB (compression ratio < 80%). During a median follow-up of 28 (IQR: 15-52) months, 15 patients died. Kaplan-Meier analysis did not identify differences in all-cause death (log-rank p = 0.63) or cardiovascular death (log-rank p = 0.72) between patients undergoing MB-related surgery and those without MB.
CONCLUSIONS
MB with severe systolic compression was significantly associated with a high extent of fibrosis in patients with obstructive HCM. Concomitant myotomy or coronary artery bypass grafting might provide excellent survival similar to that of patients without MB. Identification of patients with severe MB and providing comprehensive management might help improve the prognosis of patients with HCM.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Myocardium; Contrast Media; Retrospective Studies; Cohort Studies; Myocardial Bridging; Gadolinium; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic; Fibrosis; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38413945
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03301-6 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Sep 2023Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital coronary anomaly in which a segment of a coronary artery, most frequently the left anterior descending artery, deviates from its... (Review)
Review
Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital coronary anomaly in which a segment of a coronary artery, most frequently the left anterior descending artery, deviates from its epicardial route by passing through the myocardium. The advent of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), equipped with its multiplane and three-dimensional functionalities, has notably enhanced the ability to identify MBs. Furthermore, novel post-processing methods have recently emerged to extract functional insights from anatomical evaluations. MB is generally considered a benign entity with very good survival rates; however, there is an increasing volume of evidence that certain MB characteristics may be associated with cardiovascular morbidity. This review is intended to depict the diagnostic and prognostic role of CCTA in the MB context.
PubMed: 37762890
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12185949