Modifiable risk factors for heart disease and coronary flow reserve assessed by transthoracic echocardiography

    Authors

    Keywords

    echocardiography, atherosclerosis, prevention

    DOI

    https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2022.166

    Full Text

    **Goal:** To indicate the influence of risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary flow reserve (CFR) values assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) ​​in patients without verified CAD. **Methods:** The paper presents an analysis of the available literature from reference databases covering the mentioned topic. **Results:** TTE-CFR presents a ratio of hyperaemic coronary blood flow during maximum vasodilation in relation to resting coronary blood flow. The most commonly used vasodilators are dipyridamole and adenosine (adenosine 140 mcg⁄kg⁄min (1-2 min), dipyridamole 0.84 mg⁄kg⁄6 min). Age and female gender have a lesser effect on the values of hyperemic CFR. Ethnic differences (vascularization, left ventricle structure) can influence the CFR values. Also, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, elevated values ​​of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea in a healthy population can have a negative effect on CFR values. **Conclusion:** There is evidence of the effect of risk factors for CAD on CFR values ​​in a population without established pathology. (1-3) It is a marker of the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis (a tool in the stratification of patients regarding cardiovascular risk, and it could be a guide in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease). Also, TTE-CFR<2 has good sensitivity and specificity to predict the significance of stenosis. Clinical presentation of the patient should be a part of the mosaic of interpretation of test results. CFR is an additional test, and stress echocardiography presents the first choice in the evaluation of ischemic heart disease.

    Literature

    1. Ciampi Q, Zagatina A, Cortigiani L, Gaibazzi N, Borguezan Daros C, Zhuravskaya N, et al. Stress Echo 2020 Study Group of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging. Functional, Anatomical, and Prognostic Correlates of Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve During Stress Echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;74(18):2278–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.08.1046
    2. Rigo F. Coronary flow reserve in stress-echo lab. From pathophysiologic toy to diagnostic tool. Cardiovasc Ultrasound. 2005 March 25;3:8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-7120-3-8
    3. Simova I. Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve Assessment with Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography. Eur Cardiol. 2015 July;10(1):12–8. https://doi.org/10.15420/ecr.2015.10.01.12
    Cardiologia Croatica
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    Modifiable risk factors for heart disease and coronary flow reserve assessed by transthoracic echocardiography

    Extended Abstract
    Issue9-10
    Published
    Pages166
    PDF via DOIhttps://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2022.166
    echocardiography
    atherosclerosis
    prevention

    Authors

    Alden Begić*ORCIDClinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Edin BegićORCIDGeneral Hospital “Prim.dr. Abdulah Nakaš”, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Nirvana Šabanović-BajramovićORCIDClinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Amer IglicaORCIDClinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Nermir GranovORCIDClinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Mirza DilićORCIDClinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Zijo BegićORCIDClinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    *Correspondence email: aldenbegic@yahoo.com

    Full Text

    Goal: To indicate the influence of risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary flow reserve (CFR) values assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) ​​in patients without verified CAD.

    Methods: The paper presents an analysis of the available literature from reference databases covering the mentioned topic.

    Results: TTE-CFR presents a ratio of hyperaemic coronary blood flow during maximum vasodilation in relation to resting coronary blood flow. The most commonly used vasodilators are dipyridamole and adenosine (adenosine 140 mcg⁄kg⁄min (1-2 min), dipyridamole 0.84 mg⁄kg⁄6 min). Age and female gender have a lesser effect on the values of hyperemic CFR. Ethnic differences (vascularization, left ventricle structure) can influence the CFR values. Also, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, elevated values ​​of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea in a healthy population can have a negative effect on CFR values.

    Conclusion: There is evidence of the effect of risk factors for CAD on CFR values ​​in a population without established pathology. (1–3) It is a marker of the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis (a tool in the stratification of patients regarding cardiovascular risk, and it could be a guide in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease). Also, TTE-CFR<2 has good sensitivity and specificity to predict the significance of stenosis. Clinical presentation of the patient should be a part of the mosaic of interpretation of test results. CFR is an additional test, and stress echocardiography presents the first choice in the evaluation of ischemic heart disease.

    Literature

    1. 1.
      Ciampi Q, Zagatina A, Cortigiani L, Gaibazzi N, Borguezan Daros C, Zhuravskaya N, et al. Stress Echo 2020 Study Group of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging. Functional, Anatomical, and Prognostic Correlates of Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve During Stress Echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;74(18):2278–91.DOI
    2. 2.
      Rigo F. Coronary flow reserve in stress-echo lab. From pathophysiologic toy to diagnostic tool. Cardiovasc Ultrasound. 2005 March 25;3:8.DOI
    3. 3.
      Simova I. Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve Assessment with Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography. Eur Cardiol. 2015 July;10(1):12–8.DOI