title: Coronary artery calcification score is increased in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an indicator of coronary atherosclerosis and is associated with future adverse cardiac events. Isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse dilation of the coronary arteries without coronary stenosis. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between CAC and isolated CAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with isolated CAE and 50 controls subjects, with normal coronary arteries, were enrolled in the study. Baseline demographic features and atherosclerosis risk factors were similar in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with CAE had higher total CAC than control subjects (84±111 vs. 33.5±103.5; p<0.001). There was also a significant correlation between per-segment CAC and ectatic segment length (r=0.32; p=0.01) but no correlation with diameter (r=0.09; p=0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with isolated CAE had higher CAC than control subjects, suggesting that atherosclerosis may be involved in the pathogenesis of isolated CAE. Patients with isolated CAE may have increased cardiovascular risk and should receive appropriate risk stratification and relevant medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ahi Evren Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey. drhakanerkan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.forename: Mustafa T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ağaç
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiriş
authors.forename: Merve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.forename: Zeydin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vatan
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erkuş
authors.forename: Ali R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Akyüz
authors.forename: Sükrü
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Çelik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020252:Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged