Comparison of intravascular ultrasound and angiography in the assessment of myocardial bridging.

Abstract

Intravascular ultrasound demonstrated a characteristic systolic compression of the bridge segments. The delayed compression release may explain the characteristic sharp early diastolic peak in coronary flow velocity found with intracoronary Doppler in vessels with myocardial bridging. Reduced coronary flow reserve may be related to this phenomenon, possibly explaining signs of ischemia detected in some of the patients, but may alternatively be a result of the presence of atherosclerosis in the segment proximal to the bridge in these patients.