Abstract:

Aim: Left bundle branch block is an independent risk factor for heart mortality. In this study we aimed to evaluate coronary blood flow with TIMI frame count in patients with left bundle branch block and angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. Materials and methods: We retrospectively studied 17 patients with left bundle branch block and as a control group 16 patients without left bundle branch block. All pa­tients had angiographically proven normal coronary arter­ies. Left bundle branch block was determined according to standard electrocardiographic criteria. The TIMI frame count was measured for each major coronary artery in each patient. Results: TIMI frame count for left anterior descending coronary artery was found to be significantly higher in patients with left bundle branch block compared with patients without left bundle branch block (35.4±16.7 and 23.8±4.5, p=0.012). TIMI frame count for circumflex and right coronary arteries were similar in patients with and without left bundle branch block (TIMI frame count for circumflex artery: 32.4±15.4 and 27.7±7.6, p=0.275; TIMI frame count for right coronary artery: 31.9±9.6 and 27.0±8.6, p=0.141). Conclusion: We have found that TIMI frame count for left anterior descending coronary artery was higher in patients with left bundle branch block compared with patients without left bundle branch block whereas there were no difference for TIMI frame count for circumflex and right coronary arteries. Impaired coronary blood flow in left anterior descending artery may help to explain the sintigraphic perfusion defects in septum of patients with left bundle branch block.

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