title: Assessment of atrial conduction time in patients with coronary artery ectasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is associated with increased sympathetic activity, plasma levels of inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. These factors can also cause arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial conduction abnormalities in patients with CAE have not been investigated in terms of atrial electromechanical delay obtained by tissue Doppler echocardiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with pure CAE (n = 30), nonobstructive coronary artery disease (NO-CAD) (n = 30), and angiographically normal coronary arteries "controls" (n = 30) were compared in terms of electrocardiographic P-wave measurements, echocardiographic atrial electromechanical coupling (AEC) parameters, and interatrial conduction delay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean left atrium diameter in the CAE group was similar to the NO-CAD group but significantly greater than the control group (3.62 ± 0.28 vs 3.46 ± 0.32 vs 3.41 ± 0.31 cm, P = 0.021). P maximum and P-wave dispersion were significantly increased in the CAE group compared to the NOCAD group and the control group (108.6 ± 6.6 vs 97.9 ± 6.6 vs 93.5 ± 6.2, P = 0.0001; 34.4 ± 7.6 vs 23.2 ± 7.8 vs 19.4 ± 7.7 ms, P < 0.0001). Mitral AEC, septal AEC, and tricuspid AEC were significantly higher in the CAE group than the NO-CAD group and the control group (68 ± 4.5 vs 57 ± 4.5 vs 53 ± 4.6 ms, P < 0.0001; 50.7 ± 7 vs 42.7 ± 7 vs 41.7 ± 7.2 ms, P = 0.0001; 47 ± 6.7 vs 39.1 ± 6.7 vs 38.1 ± 6.6 ms, P < 0.0001). Interatrial conduction delay was significantly increased in the CAE group compared to the NO-CAD group and the control group (21 ± 5.5 vs 17.8 ± 5.6 vs 15 ± 5.6 ms, P < 0.0001).The correlation analysis demonstrated that the interatrial conduction delay and P-wave dispersion (Pd) were positively correlated with number of ectatic segments (ESN) (r = 0.41, P = 0.024 vs r = 0.49, P = 0.006). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the ESN was the only independent determinants of interatrial conduction delay (P = 0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pd and interatrial conduction delay are prolonged in patients with CAE compared to NO-CAD patients and the healthy controls.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Camlica Alman Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Cihan
authors: C
authors: Sengul
authors: Cihan
authors: C
authors: Cevik
authors: Olcay
authors: O
authors: Ozveren
authors: Aysegul
authors: A
authors: Sunbul
authors: Fethi
authors: F
authors: Kilicarslan
authors: Vecih
authors: V
authors: Oduncu
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Can
authors: Ender
authors: E
authors: Semiz
authors: Ismet
authors: I
authors: Dindar
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009431:Neural Conduction; D014463:Ultrasonography