Coronary artery ectasia: a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as a localised or diffuse dilatation of coronary artery lumen more than 1.5 times that of an adjacent normal segment. CAE may present with or without functionally significant stenosis. Such patients may manifest with stable angina or with acute coronary syndrome. Ectasia may serve as a nidus for thrombus formation with likelihood of distal embolisation or it may lead to dissection or spasm. This condition presents a challenge for an interventionist. Should we intervene or manage it medically. We describe a case of CAE where all the vessels were diffusely ectatic with variable degree of stenosis. In brief we discuss the causes and management issues in ectasia.