Impact of the Anatomical Factors of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Patients With Single-Vessel Disease

Abstract

Background: Despite the recognition of the common risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), it<br />appears that there is a wider range of risk factors. The purpose of the present study was to<br />evaluate the association between the anatomical factors and the increased risk of CAD<br />occurrence and its clinical consequences.<br />Methods: in this study, 50 cases with a single coronary artery stenosis of the left anterior descending<br />artery (LAD) and 50 controls with a normal coronary angiography or non-obstructive CAD<br />were enrolled, and the objective of the study was compared between the 2 groups.<br />Results: The number of the branches before the LAD stenosis significantly increased in the patients<br />with LAD disease, and there was a meaningful increase in the number of both the diagonal and<br />septal branches originating before the stenosis (P<0.001). The average number of the diagonal<br />branches was the same in both groups, which was statistically insignificant. (P=0.986) The<br />mean value of the angle between the largest diagonal branch or septal branch and the LAD in<br />the cases with CAD and the controls showed no significant difference. A family history of the<br />early-onset cardiovascular disease in the control group with non-obstructive CAD was 6%<br />versus 20% in the CAD group, and this difference was statistically significant (P≤0.03).<br />Conclusions: According to our study, it appears that the sum of the septal and diagonal branches of the<br />LAD can be a statistically significant risk factor for the progression of atherosclerosis in the<br />LAD as well. The LAD involvement is significantly associated with the familial type of CAD