Coronary atherosclerosis within a myocardial bridge, not a benign condition

• Published in: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Vol. 80; no. 1; pp. 91 - 93
• Main Authors: de Winter, Robbert J, Kok, Wouter E M, Piek, Jan J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society 01.07.1998; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Angioplasty; Atherosclerosis; atherosclerotic plaque; Biological and medical sciences; Body fat; Cardiac stress tests; Cardiology. Vascular system; Case Report; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease - complications; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary heart disease; Coronary Vessel Anomalies - complications; Coronary Vessel Anomalies - diagnostic imaging; Coronary vessels; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Heart; Heart attacks; Humans; intravascular ultrasound; Ischemia; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; myocardial bridging; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - etiology; Pain; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Veins & arteries; Sonography; Human; Radiodiagnosis; Anatomical variation; Coronary artery; Epicardium; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Endovascular route; Coronary arteriography; Coronary heart disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Atherosclerosis; Echography; Myocardium; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/hrt.80.1.91

In patients with myocardial bridging, the area within the bridge usually remains free from atherosclerotic disease. The case of a 47 year old man is described who had the rare combination of myocardial bridging with an atherosclerotic plaque within the area of bridging, which was detected with intravascular ultrasound but not with coronary angiography. The clinical history of the patient demonstrates that this is not a benign condition. In symptomatic patients the bridged segment should be screened for the presence of plaque with intracoronary ultrasound.