Abstract
It is unclear if anomalous coronary arteries are at higher risk for atherosclerosis.
The link between anomalous coronary artery and early coronary artery disease has been
suggested. The aim of this study is to determine whether the coronary artery anomaly
predisposes to development of significant coronary disease. Using retrospective chart
review, patients with documented anomalous coronary arteries recognized during coronary
angiography between years 2000 to 2007 were analyzed. Prevalence of significant atherosclerotic
coronary artery disease (defined as more than 50% luminal narrowing) was compared
between normal and anomalous coronaries. A total of 147 patients with anomalous coronary
arteries were found. Right coronary artery was the most common anomalous artery 128
of 148 (86.5%) in our dataset. There was no difference in the occurrence of atherosclerosis
between anomalous and nonanomalous coronaries. Significant atherosclerosis was present
in 59 of the 148 anomalous coronary arteries (37.8%), and 112 of the 293 nonanomalous
coronary arteries (38.2%, p = 0.9). On the basis of our study, there is no evidence that anomalous coronary arteries
predispose to significant coronary artery disease in comparison to normal coronary
arteries.
Keywords
anomalous coronary - atherosclerosis - coronary artery disease - angiogram - cardiac
catheterization
