Decreased nitrate-mediated dilatation in patients with coronary artery ectasia: an ultrasonographic evaluation of brachial artery.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia has been defined as localized or diffuse nonobstructive lesions of the epicardial coronary arteries with a luminal dilation exceeding the 1.5-fold of normal adjacent segment or vessel diameter. Although coronary artery disease is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood.

Decreased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with coronary artery ectasia compared with patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Although atherosclerosis is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary artery ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood. A histopathological examination of ectatic segments has revealed mainly destruction of the media layer of the artery. In the present study, we assessed carotid intima-media thickness and common carotid artery diameter in patients with and without coronary artery ectasia.

Impaired left ventricle filling in slow coronary flow phenomenon: an echo-Doppler study.

Slow coronary flow (SCF) in a normal-appearing coronary angiogram is a well-recognized clinical entity, but its etiopathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate echocardiographic features in patients with SCF. Thirty-four patients with angiographically proven SCF (group I) and 25 patients with normal coronary flow (group II) were enrolled in the study.

Vascular endothelial function and plasma homocysteine levels in Behcet's disease.

The purpose of the present study was to test endothelial function and to determine if plasma homocysteine levels are associated with endothelial injury in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Flow-mediated dilation in patients with BD was smaller than that of control subjects (p = 0.001), and mean plasma homocysteine levels in patients with BD were significantly higher (p = 0.

Vascular endothelial function in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background: Slow coronary flow (SCF) in a normal coronary angiogram is a well-recognized clinical entity, but its etiopathogenesis remains unclear.

Design: The aim of the study was to determine endothelial function in patients with SCF using a flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) technique in the brachial artery.

Methods: Coronary flow was quantified using the corrected thrombosis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) method.