Influence of the myocardial bridging phenomenon on the myocardial structure and the coronary arteries wall structure changes

Abstract

Background/Aim. Our research was performed to evaluate the influences of the myocardial bridging of coronary arteries on the myocardial and coronary arteries wall structure changes, that could be a reason for multiple heart malfunctions. Methods. We analyzed the autopsy material, collected during a five-years period, and especially the group of 575 cases with the major aim to diagnose mors naturalis. In all cases with the presence of myocardial bridge over the arterial coronary wall revealed at autopsy, samples were taken for microscopic verification and examination. Results. We found myocardial bridges over the coronary arteries or their major branches in 27 of the cases (4.70%). We believe that myocardial bridges compromise coronary perfusion by cyclic compression of the overbridged vessels, and that it could be the initial factor in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerotic degeneration processes on the coronary artery wall. We found different grades of arteriosclerotic changes in 88.89% of the cases, as well as fibrosis of myocardium in 88.89% and lipomatosis in 66.67% of the cases with the present myocardial bridges. Conclusion. Our results suggested that myocardial bridging of coronary arteries and/or their branches was the pathological and even lethal phenomenon that deserves more intensive clinical evaluation.

Keywords

• coronary vessels
• myocardium
• autopsy
• microscopy
• coronary arteriosclerosis