title: Effects of isolated coronary artery ectasia on electrocardiographic parameters reflecting ventricular heterogeneity.
abstract: Isolated coronary ectatic but otherwise normal epicardial coronary arteries are an infrequent angiographic finding. We sought to determine whether coronary artery ectasia (CAE) may alter QT-interval duration and dispersion. The study population consisted of 24 patients with isolated CAE and otherwise normal epicardial coronary arteries (group 1) and sex- and age-matched subjects with atypical chest pain and otherwise normal coronary flow (group 2). Both groups underwent a routine standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram recorded at 50 mm/s during rest. QT dispersion (QTd), corrected QT (QTc), and corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) were calculated. Distribution of sex, age, body mass index, and cardiac risk factors were similar in the 2 groups. Mean heart rate was similar in the 2 groups (74 +/- 10 vs 70 +/- 7, P > .05). In group 1, QTd, QTcd, and QTc were significantly higher than those of group 2 (QTd, 40 +/- 17 vs 29 +/- 10 milliseconds [P < .05]; QTcd, 43 +/- 19 vs 30 +/- 10 milliseconds [P < .05]; QTc, 410 +/- 21 vs 397 +/- 19 milliseconds [P < .05]). In conclusion, CAE was found to be associated with prolonged QT interval and increased QTd. Microvascular dysfunction and/or ischemia may be responsible mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kosuyolu Heart Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.forename: Ali Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Muhsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turkmen
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kargin
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Cihangir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaymaz
mesh_terms: D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis*