title: The branching anatomical pattern of the coronary arteries as a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
abstract: In an unselected population sample of Bucharest aged 0-45 years, a similar branching anatomical pattern of the coronary arteries was revealed in 58% of the subjects. In the remainder 42% of cases 15 different minor deviations from the basal branching anatomical pattern were detected. Among these minor deviations, 4 occurred constantly associated, 8 only occasionally associated (1/3-1/2 of cases) and 3 were not associated with an accelerated atherosclerosis. The "atherogenic" deviations, characterized by an excessive size and length of the left coronary artery and an underdeveloped right coronary artery or vice versa, led to a more precocious development and more severe evolution of atherosclerotic plaques in the hyperperfused vessel.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000150:complications*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk