Objective: To investigate whether exercise would induce myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery ectasia without significant coronary stenosis.
Methods: A total of 41 patients (male 29, female 12) with coronary artery ectasia without significant coronary stenosis, confirmed by selective coronary angiography, were enrolled in the study group. Forty-one patients with normal coronary arteries were in the control group. All the patients received a clinical examination and treadmill exercise before selective coronary angiography.
Results: Eighteen patients (43.9%) had typical angina in the study group with respect to two patients in the control group (chi(2)=10.498, P=0.001). In the study group, 32 cases had positive treadmill test with respect to five cases in the control group (chi(2)=35.903, P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Patients with coronary artery ectasia without significant coronary stenosis could get typical angina. Exercise could induce myocardial ischemia which should be paid attention to.