Coronary artery aneurysms. Report of seven cases and review of the pertinent literature.

ABSTRACT

Coronary artery aneurysm was demonstrated in 7 patients, whose ages ranged from 38 to 66 years, by selective coronary angiography. Four patients had atypical chest pain probably not caused by cardiac ischemia, 1 patient had aortic stenosis and recurrent bouts of atrial fibrillation, and 2 were evaluated following myocardial infarction and found to have triple vessel atherosclerotic coronary disease. Mitral valve prolapse and varicosities of the coronary venous tree found in one individual suggest that mucoid degeneration which replaces the normal fibrous tissue resulting in weakness of vessel wall may be responsible for the formation of coronary artery aneurysm and varicosities of the coronary venous system. The unsuspected presentation and benign course of these patients are emphasized and the pertinent literature is reviewed.