MYOCARDIAL MUSCLE BRIDGES: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, MECHANISMS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS DEVELOPMENT, MODERN TACTICS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (LITERATURE REVIEW)

Starodubov Oleg Dmitrievich, Efremova Olga Alekseevna, Obolonkova Natalia Ivanovna, Maslennikov Andrey Anatolyevich

This review article focuses on the features of pathophysiology, mechanisms of atherosclerosis development in patients with myocardial bridges, as well as currently available methods of diagnosis and treatment of this category of patients. The clinical significance of the presence of myocardial bridges in patients has been the subject of controversy for several decades due to an incomplete understanding of pathophysiology. Modern research methods have helped clarify why signs of ischemia occur in patients with this anomaly, especially when the only angiographic finding is systolic compression of the coronary artery. Interventional or surgical treatment should be performed in patients refractory to conservative therapy with a proven role of the myocardial bridge on the development of myocardial ischemia.

Keywords:myocardial bridge, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound, intravascular optical coherence tomography, coronary stenting, percutaneous coronary intervention