Feasibility Study of Transthoracic Echocardiography for Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon Evaluation: Validation by Coronary Angiography

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess echocardiography parameters in CSFP evaluation. MethodsThis study enrolled 79 consecutive patients with CSFP validated by coronary angiography and control individuals with normal coronary flow. Coronary flow rates were determined by corrected CTFC. Clinical and coronary angiography data and coronary parameters assessed by echocardiography using the CFI were recorded. ResultsBaseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Patients with CSFP were predominantly males, with higher BMI values, weights and triglyceride levels (p<0.05), but lower platelet counts (p<0.05). Conventional echocardiography parameters were similar in the two groups. However, echocardiographic measurements of the LAD, including PDV, MDV, PDP, MDP and VTI, in the CSFP group were lower compared with control values (p<0.05). BMI was positively correlated with CSFP. LAD's CTFC showed strong inverse correlations with PDV, MDV, PDP, and MDP in CSFP groups. ROC curve analysis revealed that coronary artery flow-related parameters occupied more than half of the AUC. ConclusionsCSFP could be identified with the help of echocardiography.