Background: Coronary flow velocity (CFV) can be influenced with coronary stenosis. We evaluate the predictive value of baseline CFV by transthoracic echocardiography in the prediction of significant stenosis of the left anterior coronary artery (LAD-CAD).
Methods: Baseline CFV was measured in 128 patients (34 females, mean age: 61.8짹10.6 years) with transthoracic echocardiography before taking coronary angiography. CFV was measured with pulsed wave Doppler of the distal LAD. The significant LAD-CAD was defined as more than 50% of diameter stenosis on quantitative angiography.
Results: Total 45 patients (35.2%) showed significant LAD-CAD. Compared with control group, there was no statistical difference in the risk factors and chemical profiles including cholesterol, glucose, high-sensitive C-reactive protein and creatinine levels. However, in the patients with significant LAD-CAD showed higher maximal baseline CFV (43.2짹31.4 vs. 29.1짹10.1 cm/sec, P<0.001) than that in the control group. Regarding the maximal baseline CFV in the detection of significant LAD-CAD by the receiver operating curve, the best sensitivity and specicificty were obtained when 27.1 cm/sec. Using this criterion (more than 27.1 cm/sec) for predicting an LAD-CAD, the sensitivity and specificity were 71.1% and 62.7%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, CFV more than 27.1 cm/sec was one of the independent factor of predicting significant LAD-CAD (Odds ratio, 4.93, 95% confidence interval 2.13~11.43). Conclusion: Without using pharamacological or physical stresses, these date suggest that baseline CFV can be can be used in predicting significant LAD-CAD.