Abnormal Epicardial Coronary Resistance in Patients With Diffuse Atherosclerosis but “Normal” Coronary Angiography

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background Coronary arteries without focal stenosis at angiography are generally considered non–flow-limiting. However, atherosclerosis is a diffuse process that often remains invisible at angiography. Accordingly, we hypothesized that in patients with coronary artery disease, nonstenotic coronary arteries induce a decrease in pressure along their length due to diffuse coronary atherosclerosis. Methods and Results Coronary pressure and fractional flow reserve (FFR), as indices of coronary conductance, were obtained from 37 arteries in 10 individuals without atherosclerosis (group I) and from 106 nonstenotic arteries in 62 patients with arteriographic stenoses in another coronary artery (group II). In group I, the pressure gradient between aorta and distal coronary artery was minimal at rest (1±1 mm Hg) and during maximal hyperemia (3±3 mm Hg). Corresponding values were significantly larger in group II (5±4 mm Hg and 10±8 mm Hg, respectively; both P Conclusion Diffuse coronary atherosclerosis without focal stenosis at angiography causes a graded, continuous pressure fall along arterial length. This resistance to flow contributes to myocardial ischemia and has consequences for decision-making during percutaneous coronary interventions.

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: