Objective: To determine whether in patients with a myocardial bridge, systolic compression of the affected coronary branch may cause cardiac ischaemia and is of clinical relevance.
Design: Pilot inventory.
Method: In 11 consecutive patients with an established myocardial bridge who presented with possible ischaemic symptoms angiographic dobutamine stress-echocardiography was used to visualize hypokinesia caused by ischaemia in the area ofmyocardium supplied by the bridged artery.
Results: Hypokinesia was observed in the area supplied by the bridged artery in one of the patients (9%). The symptoms in the other patients were not associated with the bridge.
Conclusion: The clinical relevance of myocardial bridging appeared to be smaller than is generally assumed. In patients with known myocardial bridging and symptoms that could be caused by myocardial ischaemia, it should first be established that the bridge is actually causing the ischaemia before any therapeutic intervention aimed at the bridge is undertaken.