Pharmacologic Management of Coronary Artery Ectasia

Ranolazine as a First-Choice Anti-anginal Medication for Patients With Coronary Artery Ectasia: A Case Series

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is characterized by the abnormal dilation of coronary arteries, resulting in disturbed or slow blood flow, which causes angina pectoris-the most prevalent symptom of CAE. To date, there is no consensus on the therapeutic management of CAE due to its rarity and the scarcity of research. We present a case series of five patients with different ethnicities, including both men and women, whose CAE was successfully managed by the administration of ranolazine. All five patients were found to have CAE by coronary angiography, which was also associated with slow blood flow. Clinically, the patients had accelerating angina. They were prescribed an initial dose of 500 mg of ranolazine twice daily, which led to the resolution of their anginal symptoms. They have been clinically and hemodynamically stable for the last several years. In light of these results, we propose that ranolazine be considered as a first-choice anti-anginal medication for patients with CAE.

Coronary Artery Ectasia: Review of the Non-Atherosclerotic Molecular and Pathophysiologic Concepts

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is frequently encountered in clinical practice, conjointly with atherosclerotic CAD (CAD). Given the overlapping cardiovascular risk factors for patients with concomitant CAE and atherosclerotic CAD, a common underlying pathophysiology is often postulated. However, coronary artery ectasia may arise independently, as isolated (pure) CAE, thereby raising suspicions of an alternative mechanism. Herein, we review the existing evidence for the pathophysiology of CAE in order to help direct management strategies towards enhanced detection and treatment.

Antithrombotic treatment strategy for patients with coronary artery ectasia and acute myocardial infarction: A case report

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on the antithrombotic treatment strategy for patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE).

CASE SUMMARY

This case reports the dynamic observation of a patient for 48 mo after a diagnosis of CAE with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The first antithrombotic agents used were aspirin (100 mg/d) and clopidogrel (75 mg/d). During the sixth month of observation, a second AMI occurred involving the same culprit vessel; therefore, antithrombotic agents were changed to aspirin (100 mg/d) and ticagrelor (90 mg twice per day). Twelve months after the second AMI, an attempt to reduce the dosage ticagrelor failed; therefore the original dose was continued. The CAE was relatively stable during the following 4 years.

CONCLUSION

This case indicates that a combination of aspirin and ticagrelor may be more effective for CAE patients with AMI than aspirin and clopidogrel.

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Ectasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a relatively rare clinical entity, the pathogenesis of which is poorly understood. More and more evidence is accumulating to suggest a critical inflammatory component. We aimed to elucidate any association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and coronary artery ectasia. A systematic MEDLINE database, ClinicalTrials.gov, medRxiv, Scopus and Cochrane Library search was conducted: 50 studies were deemed relevant, reporting on difference in NLR levels between CAE patients and controls (primary endpoint) and/or on high-sensitive CRP, IL-6, TNF-a and RDW levels (secondary endpoint), and were included in our final analysis. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021224195). All inflammatory biomarkers under investigation were found higher in coronary artery ectasia patients as compared to healthy controls (NLR; SMD = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.27–1.20, hs-CRP; SMD = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.64–1.28, IL-6; SMD = 2.68; 95% CI: 0.95–4.41, TNF-a; SMD = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.24–0.75, RDW; SMD = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.26–0.87). The main limitations inherent in this analysis are small case-control studies of moderate quality and high statistical heterogeneity. Our findings underscore that inflammatory dysregulation is implicated in coronary artery ectasia and merits further investigation.