title: Prevalence and three-year follow-up of patients with isolated myocardial bridge in the mid-Black Sea region: a retrospective single-center study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Myocardial bridge (MB), also known as muscular bridge, is a rare congenital disease with relatively good prognosis. However, it has been associated with unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. Incidence and prognosis of patients diagnosed with isolated MB after having undergone coronary angiography are evaluated in the present retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coronary angiograms of 18,250 patients, obtained between 2008 and 2011, were reexamined for presence of MB at the cardiology clinic. Of these patients, 241 (0.95%) had MB, and 181 (0.99%) had it as an isolated finding. Patients with isolated MB were divided into 2 groups according to severity of the lesion in the cardiac systole. Group 1 was comprised of patients with non-critical (<70%) stenosis; group 2 was comprised of patients with critical (≥70%) stenosis. Demographic characteristics, symptoms at initial diagnosis, and coronary angiographic findings regarding localization and severity of stenosis were noted. Follow-up was performed by phone, with outpatient clinic visits, and by reviewing hospital records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients (13%) had critical stenosis (group 2), and 146 (87%) had non-critical stenosis (group 1). Mean follow-up duration was 38±7 months. Recurrent angina and repeated coronary angiography were reported in 15 group 1 patients (10.2%) and in 2 group 2 patients (8.0%) (p=non-significant). No instance of myocardial infarction was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated MB seems to be a relatively benign disease, a conclusion made in accordance with those of previous studies. Symptoms and prognosis are not determined by degree of stenosis generated by the muscular bridge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey. aytekinaksakal@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aksakal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Silivri Prison State Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urumdaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Hakan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ateş
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054084:Myocardial Bridging / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology