Incidence, clinical characteristics, and 4-year follow-up of patients with isolated myocardial bridge: a retrospective, single-center, epidemiologic, coronary arteriographic follow-up study in southern Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Myocardial bridge is a rare coronary anomaly that is generally considered to be benign. The true incidence and long-term prognosis are still under debate. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and prognosis of patients with isolated myocardial bridge in our center.


METHODS
This study is a retrospective, angiographic follow-up which includes 14,250 patients. Median follow-up was 4 years. The typical angiographic finding of myocardial bridging (MB) is systolic narrowing of an epicardial artery. Exclusion criterion was myocardial bridge with coronary artery disease (CAD). The primary end point was major cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization).


RESULTS
Myocardial bridge was observed in 118 (0.83%) patients without CAD. The median age was 56.2. There were 30 (25.5%) male and 88 (74.5%) female patients. The arterial segment that was most frequently involved was the left anterior descending artery, as evident in 91 patients (77.2%). Most of the myocardial bridge produces a systolic narrowing between 30% and 50%. There was no major adverse cardiac event nor a need for any revascularization in the follow-up period with medical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated myocardial bridge is a benign and rare coronary anomaly. However, further studies are needed to detect long-term prognosis.
Department of Cardiology, Başkent University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. davrancicek@mynet.com
Davran
D
Ciçek
Nihat
N
Kalay
Haldun
H
Müderrisoğlu
D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054084:Myocardial Bridging / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents