Angiographic Evaluation of Coronary Arterial Abnormalities in Kawasaki Disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate the coronary angiographic findings of patients with Kawasaki disease and to investigatethe natural course of aneurysms of the coronary artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1989 and January1996, we evaluated the coronary angiographic findings of 12 consecutive children with Kawasaki disease whosecoronary artery was abnormal. On initial study, we retrospectively analysed the size, configuration, and locationof 35 coronary aneurysms, and in five children, follow-up coronary angiography was performed at intervals of 17 to28 (mean, 23) months. Seventeen aneurysms detected on initial study were evaluated for subsequent change. RESULTS: Initial coronary angiography showed the aneurysms to be diffuse in 7 cases(20%), saccular in 7(20%), fusiform in17(49%), and tubular in 4(11%). They were large in 10 cases (29%), medium in 22(63%), and small in 3(9%) ; theirlocation in the coronary artery was proximal(71%), middle in 6(17%), and distal in 4(11%). The right coronaryartery was involved in 18 case(51%), and the left coronary artery in 17(49%). Follow-up study showed that theaneurysm had regressed in 11 cases (65%), persisted in 2(12%), and progressed to stenosis in 1(6%) and occlusionin 3(18%). Two(50%) of the four large aneurysms showed complete occlusion. On the other hand, medium and smallaneurysms showed regression in 9(82%) and in all cases, respectively. Diffuse-type aneurysms were complicated byocclusion in 2 cases (50%) and stenosis in 1(25%). On the other hand, six fusiform aneurysms (75%) and allsaccular and tubular aneurysms had regressed. CONCLUSION: In patients with kawasaki disease, informationregarding the size and configuration of coronary aneurysms may be useful for predicting the natural course andprognosis of coronary artery disease.

Radiologic Evaluation of Coronary Artery Fistula in Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic findings of coronary artery fistula (CAF) by reviwing adult patients in whom this condition had been diagnosed by coronary angiogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the clinical findings, chest X-rays and angiographic findings of 37 adult CAF patients treated at three institutes over a period of is 15 years. RESULTS: On coronary angiogram, the origin of CAF was found to be the left coronary artery (LCA) in 20 cases (54%), the right coronary artery (RCA) in five (14%), and both in 12 (32%). By subdividing the coronary artery into four segments [RCA, left main coronary artery, left anterior descending artery(LAD), and left circumflex artery(LCX)], the origin of CAF (total 55 cases) was found to be the LAD in 23 cases (42%), the LCX in 12 (22%), the left main coronary artery in three (5%), and the RCA in 17 (31%). The draining site of CAF was the right heart [right atrium, right ventricle, and main pulmonary artery (MPA)] in 28 cases (75%) the left heart (left atrium and left ventricle) in 8 (22%), and both in one (3%). The fistula drained to the cardiac chamber in 12 cases (33%), the MPA in 23 (62%), and both in 2 (5%). Among 55 cases, the total number of fistulas to the MPA was 35, and their origin was the RCA in nine instances (26%), and the left coronary artery in26 (74%). CAF to the MPA was classified into four types : Type I (single, tortuous and not dilated) was seen in six patients (17%), type II (single, tortuous and dilated) in three (9%), type III (multiple and fine plexus) in 21 (60%), and type IV (multiple and dilated plexus) in five (14%). Eighteen cases (49%) were associated with the other cardiac disease. CONCLUSION: In these Korean adults, CAF originated most commonly from the LCA, especially from the LAD segment of this artery, and most frequently drained to the right cardic chamber, especially to the MPA. The morphology of the CAF to the MPA was mostly multiple and fine plexus. We suggest that to ensure the most suitable treatment, and for better prognosis, patients with other cardiac disease should be evaluated for the presence of CAF.