MYOCARDIAL BRIDGING AS A FACTOR IN HEART DISORDERS - CRITICAL-REVIEW AND HYPOTHESIS

The purpose of this report is to review the previous and current metho ds for the detection of a MB and to summarize results of work by other investigators as well as our own recent morphological studies with em phasis on work since 1983. We will discuss the presumable association of MBs with heart disorders, on the basis of significant publications. We describe the importance of both basic and clinical research for th e assessment of MB influence in various heart disorders. Aspects cover ed are: (1) historical background of MBs and the relationship between the MB and CA; (2) general characteristics of MBs; (3) methods for stu dying MBs; (4) compressive effect of the MB on the CA; (5) clinical sy mptoms including myocardial ischemia, angina pectoris, myocardial infa rction, development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis, ventricular fib rillation and sudden death; (6) treatment of MB-associated heart disor ders by resection of MBs and (7) future research trends.