Korean Circ J.  1986 Jun;16(2):207-216. 10.4070/kcj.1986.16.2.207.

Development and Functional Significance of the Coronary Collateral Circulation in Coronary Artery Disease

• Cho SY
• Park KS
• Jang YS
• Chung NS
• Shim WH
• Kim HS
• Lee WK

• KMID: 1938259
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1986.16.2.207

Abstract

Since recognition of coronary arterial clloateral circulation in living patients has been made possible by coronary arteriography, controversy has existed about the functional importance of these vessel and their ability to protect the myocardium against ischemia. The coronary arteriograms and left ventriculograms of 279 consecutive patients were reviewed. All had at least 50% diameter reduction of 1 or more major coronary arteries. In 94 patients(111 arteries), at least 1 major branch was totally occluded. Collateral circulation was seen in 85 of 111(76.6%) totally occlued arteries versus 22 of 107(20.6%) with > or =90% but <100% stenosis(P<0.01). No artery with <90% stenosis(254 arteries) recieved angiographically detectable collateral vessels. An analysis was made of the relation between left ventricular segmental wall motion and the quality of collateral circulation in 68 totally occluded arteries among 60 patients with myocardial infarction(Group 1) and in 43 totally occluded arteries among 34 patients without prior myocardial infarction(Group 2). Good collateral vessels went to 62.8% of Group 2, but 38.8% of Group 1(P<0.05). LV contraction was abnormal in all Group 1 patients with good collateral circulation. Of 27 with good collateral circulation in Group 2, LV contraction was normal in 59.3% and abnormal in 40.7%. But there was no statistically significant difference between the effect of good or poor collateral circulation in LV wall motion in each Group. Also we have studied the frequency of collateral circulation appearance in 34 patients, in whom the date of symptom onset of transmural infarction was definitely documented. The presence of collateral vessels was significantly higher in the patients studied 1-15 day period after symptom onset vs those studied within 1 day(77.8% vs 14.3%, P<0.05). but there was no significant differance in the apperance of collaterals in the patients studied in the 1-15 day vs the 15 day-2 month, and vs the 2-36 month period(77.85, 66.7% and 66.7%, NS). These observation indicate that collateral circulation cannot be seen angiographically unless there is total or near-total occlusion, and that the pressence of good collaterals may play a patrial role in preserving myocardial function and preventing myocardial infarction. The development of collaterals in myocardial infarction seems to be occurred within 15 days after the symptom onset of transmural infarction. But any benefits can not be expected from newly developed collateral circulation after myocardial infarction.

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Arteries
Collateral Circulation*
Coronary Artery Disease*
Coronary Vessels*
Humans
Infarction
Ischemia
Myocardial Infarction
Myocardium