Introduction

Coronary anomalies are rare and often an incidental finding in patients without concomitant congenital heart defects. Conflicting reports and lack of evidence-substantiated guidelines lead to challenging treatment decisions, especially for anomalous coronary arteries originating from the opposite sinus of Valsalva or from the opposite coronary artery (ACAOS). For an anomalous coronary artery from the pulmonary artery or coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) there is a more established consensus on treatment, but results of and recommendations on long-term follow-up are scarce[1, 2]. American and European guidelines both state that there is limited evidence regarding treatment choices, and the majority of their treatment advice is based on level C evidence [1, 3]. This underlines the gap in our knowledge concerning these defects and the need for more evidence.

Anomalous coronary artery from the opposite sinus

The prevalence of ACAOS is reported to be between 0.1 and 1% in the general population [4]. Multiple variations exist, which are divided into potentially benign and malignant variants (Fig. 1). Each variation demands a different approach in medical practice [4, 5]. The most important potentially malignant variation is an interarterial course, which can be a significant risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in physically active patients [6,7,8]. Several high-risk anatomical features potentially contribute to the risk of ischaemia and SCD: a (long) intramural course (where the coronary artery shares its tunica media with the aorta), a slit-like ostium, proximal narrowing, an elliptical vessel shape, acute angle take-off and dominance of the ACAOS [4, 5, 9, 10]. The precise mechanism causing ischaemia in interarterial ACAOS is not known. The reported risk of SCD is higher for an interarterial left coronary artery (LCA) than for the more prevalent interarterial right coronary artery (RCA) [4,5,6, 9, 10].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Variations of anomalous coronary arteries from the opposite sinus of Valsalva. LCA left coronary artery, RCA right coronary artery, LAD left anterior descending artery, LCx left circumflex artery, R right, L left, A anterior, P posterior, CT computed tomography

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Evidence to guide treatment choices is currently scarce. Guidelines are primarily based on expert consensus and the findings of a limited number of studies [1, 3]. A class I indication for surgery exists only for ACAOS cases with an interarterial course and clear ischaemia-related complaints or proven ischaemia in the vessel’s supply area. However, age can be a complicating factor in this seemingly straightforward advice. In patients > 35 years, causes other than the ACAOS are seen to provoke complaints and ischaemia, such as obstructive or microvascular coronary artery disease or pulmonary disease, so for these patients treatment choices are not univocal [5, 11, 12]. Older patients also seem less prone to cardiac events caused by an interarterial ACAOS, for which reasons have not yet been elucidated [5]. For interarterial ACAOS without evidence of ischaemia, the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) both provide a class IIa or lower level of evidence for surgical intervention. The AHA/ACC and ESC differ in their opinions on one point: the asymptomatic right interarterial ACAOS without myocardial ischaemia and without high-risk anatomy. The ESC specifically does not recommend (class III indication) surgery in these patients [3], but the AHA/ACC is not unequivocal with regard to surgical treatment versus continued observation (class IIb) [1]. Important when deciding on surgery are the expected benefits from surgery versus the peri-operative risks and risk of SCD of the uncorrected ACAOS. The methods most often applied for surgical correction are unroofing (preferred procedure in patients with a long intramural course), ostioplasty, and re-implantation of the coronary artery. Recent studies show that surgery is a safe option [4, 13, 14].

The beneficial effects of lifestyle restrictions and medical therapy (usually beta blockers) for a malignant ACAOS remain unclear and may contribute to anxiety regarding which level of exercise is considered safe [1, 4, 9]. For benign anatomical variants the consensus is that no interventions, exercise restrictions or medication are indicated [4].

In summary, the decision regarding how aggressive the approach to treat an ACAOS should be largely depends on the degree of malignant anatomical and physiological characteristics of the artery, i.e. the likelihood that the ACAOS causes ischaemia and/or a concomitant increased risk of SCD (Fig. 1). In clinical practice the criteria to decide whether an ACAOS is a benign or malignant variant are not uniform, and a ‘gold standard approach’ is lacking. Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is the best method to define the coronary anatomy and aids in the evaluation of anatomical high-risk features [1, 5], but physiological consequences cannot be adequately assessed with this technique. The most frequently used examinations to evaluate physiological aspects are: coronary angiography (CAG) with intracoronary measurements [15], stress echocardiography, exercise stress testing, perfusion magnetic resonance imaging with adenosine and nuclear perfusion imaging. These tests are endorsed by the 2018 AHA/ACC and 2020 ESC guidelines for the management of adults with congenital heart disease (class I indication) [1, 3], but it is unclear which examination(s) provide(s) the physician with the most useful information regarding the treatment decision. As a result, current clinical practice is very heterogeneous.

Aberrant left or right coronary artery from pulmonary artery

It is recommended that an aberrant left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) and an aberrant right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) are corrected because of the risk of myocardial ischaemia, SCD and effects on cardiac function [1, 3]. The infant type without adequate collateral filling mostly presents with myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure in the first few years of life. Patients with the adult type have a well-developed collateral system and may present in adult life for the first time with myocardial ischaemia-like complaints, left ventricular dysfunction or SCD [16]. The 2008 ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of adults with congenital heart disease recommend clinical follow-up every 3–5 years after repair [2]. The revised 2018 ACC/AHA and 2020 ESC guidelines do not give recommendations on the follow-up of this patient group [1, 3].

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas

A CAVF is a communication between a coronary artery and another cardiovascular structure. Regardless of symptoms, large and haemodynamically significant fistulas are corrected, preferentially percutaneously, when they result in cardiac dysfunction. Small or haemodynamically insignificant fistulas are corrected if there are complications; otherwise conservative treatment is an accepted option [2, 3]. The 2008 ACC/AHA guidelines advise that patients visit the outpatient clinic every 3–5 years for evaluation of the haemodynamic sequelae of CAVFs [2]. The 2018 ACC/AHA and 2020 ESC guidelines do not provide recommendations on follow-up [1, 3]. Data on long-term outcomes are scarce, especially in asymptomatic patients with mostly uncorrected CAVFs [1, 2, 17].

Aims

Anomalous coronary artery from the opposite sinus

The aim is to optimise our clinical care and create a substantiated protocol from referral to follow-up for patients with ACAOS, especially for cases with an interarterial ACAOS.

ALCAPA, ARCAPA and CAVF

Follow-up and long-term outcomes are not clearly defined in these patient groups. By maintaining a registry on the follow-up of adult patients, we aim to gain insight into current clinical practice and evaluate the results to provide recommendations for future follow-up of these coronary anomalies.

Methods

Participating centres of the Multicentre Study on Coronary Anomalies in The Netherlands (MuSCAT) are the Leiden University Medical Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Radboud University Medical Centre and the Medisch Spectrum Twente. The study was approved by the Medical-Ethical Committee Leiden-The Hague-Delft in May 2020.

The study population will consist of consecutive patients with the diagnosis of an ACAOS, ALCAPA, ARCAPA or CAVF. Patient inclusion started in 2020 and will continue for at least 3 years with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Patients with a history of (haemodynamically significant) congenital heart defects other than the coronary anomaly and ACAOS patients with proven coronary atherosclerotic disease with significant stenosis will be excluded. After treatment of the stenosis, patients with an ACAOS are reconsidered for inclusion. Due to the rarity of the anomalies under investigation the aim is to include as many patients as possible within the study period, but a sample size target was not set.

Anomalous coronary artery from the opposite sinus

Diagnostics and MuSCAT referral

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of the study protocol. Patients can be referred via muscat@lumc.nl. After referral, the participating hospital in geographical proximity to the patient is informed, and the patient is referred to that centre for the intake appointment. Written informed consent for participation will be discussed and obtained. On referral, the following information should preferably already be available:

  • Referral letter including medical history, reason for admission/consultation, patient history, physical examination findings, results of additional tests, conclusion and treatment strategy.

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered coronary CT angiography, consisting of 0.5- to 1‑mm slices (0.5 mm preferred), original images and report.

  • Results of additional examinations, including original images where applicable.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Flowchart of study protocol. IVUS intravascular ultrasound, FFR fractional flow reserve, iFR instantaneous wave-free ratio, CFR coronary flow reserve, LUMC Leiden University Medical Centre, UMCU University Medical Centre Utrecht, AUMC Amsterdam University Medical Centre, EMC Erasmus University Medical Centre, RUMC Radboud University Medical Centre, MST Medisch Spectrum Twente, RCA right coronary artery, LCA left coronary artery, QoL quality of life

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Work-up

After obtaining informed consent, the following examinations are performed in the participating referral centres to evaluate the anatomical and physiological properties of the ACAOS:

  • Coronary CT angiography (0.5- to 1‑mm slices) is repeated if prior images are of insufficient quality to adequately assess the (proximal) anatomy of the ACAOS. Coronary anatomy will be described according to the Leiden Convention Coronary Coding system [18, 19].

  • CAG with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements (and/or instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) or coronary flow reserve (CFR)) of the interarterial and septal ACAOS using adrenaline and adenosine or dobutamine following the protocol previously developed (see Electronic Supplementary Material, Supplement I). On IVUS, ostium morphology (slit-like or ‘cat eye’ appearance) and cross-sectional area stenosis due to compression are evaluated. An FFR value of < 0.8 is considered significant [15]. For iFR a value of < 0.9 and for CFR < 2.0 is considered significant [20, 21].

  • Ischaemia detection, mode according to the preference of the referral centre.

  • Transthoracic echocardiography to assess ventricular function (and coronary anatomy if possible).

  • Quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire [22, 23].

  • Thoracic complaints, classified according to ESC guidelines as typical, atypical or non-anginal [24].

Preferably all examinations are performed as standard of care, as each test addresses a different (patho-)physiological aspect of the ACAOS. All procedures are currently part of the regular care and daily practice in hospitals throughout the Netherlands.

Treatment

The treatment strategy is decided by the heart team of the referral centre where the work-up was performed and made according to contemporary clinical care (i.e. not in the context of the study). A MuSCAT working group will retrospectively evaluate per case which treatment they would deem most suitable based on the data available. The MuSCAT working group includes: an adult congenital cardiologist, interventional cardiologists, at least one thoracic surgeon and one European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging level 2 (or equivalent) certified CT cardiologist. This working group will meet (digitally) every 3 months and discuss the study cases. In these meetings advice regarding treatment is generated and the considerations leading to the treatment decision clearly documented so the relevance of every diagnostic examination in the decision-making process can be evaluated. Study team members not from the referral centre will be blinded to the actual treatment strategy chosen. Members of the MuSCAT working group are excluded from evaluation of their own patients to prevent bias. If the MuSCAT working group draws a different conclusion than the heart team of the referral hospital, results are shared if there is still the possibility of changing the treatment strategy. This does not compel the treating cardiologist to follow the advice of the MuSCAT working group. Discrepancies in treatment strategies will be analysed.

Follow-up

All patients undergo structural follow-up. Patients with indications for operative treatment are prescribed exercise restriction until surgery. Pharmacological treatment is at the discretion of the treating cardiologist.

Conservative treatment

Patients with an interarterial ACAOS with proven ischaemia and an indication for surgery who do not wish to undergo an operation are given exercise restrictions for competitive sports and/or maximal exertion and are followed up in the conservative treatment study arm. Asymptomatic patients without evidence of ischaemia will not be placed under any restrictions. Follow-up is structured as follows:

  • Six months and 12 months after inclusion: outpatient clinic visit including SF-36 questionnaire and assessment of thoracic complaints.

  • After the 12-month visit, annual visits are scheduled and additional examinations performed if indicated.

Surgical intervention

After surgery, exercise restrictions are waived. Follow-up is structured as follows:

  • Six months after surgery: coronary CT angiography (ECG-triggered, 0.5- to 1‑mm slices), ischaemia detection (same test as was performed during the initial work-up), outpatient clinic visit including SF-36 questionnaire and assessment of thoracic complaints.

  • Twelve months after surgery: outpatient clinic visit including SF-36 questionnaire and assessment of thoracic complaints.

  • After the 12-month visit, annual visits are scheduled and additional examinations performed if indicated.

ALCAPA, ARCAPA and CAVF

For ALCAPA, ARCAPA and CAVF only a registry is maintained, including clinical follow-up.

Study outcomes

Primary outcomes are (cardiac) death, myocardial ischaemia attributable to the anomalous vessel, re-intervention after surgical correction of ACAOS and intervention in initially conservatively treated patients. Secondary outcomes are quality of life based on the SF-36 questionnaire, thoracic complaints (typical, atypical, non-anginal) and heart failure requiring medical treatment.

Other outcomes evaluated are the influence of the work-up examinations on treatment choice, the degree of correlation between tests, and differences in treatment decision made by the referral hospital and the MuSCAT working group.

Conclusion

MuSCAT is the first nationally designed study in patients with ACAOS undergoing a dedicated diagnostic protocol and comparing different diagnostic techniques to evaluate their value in decision making, and also includes a registry of ALCAPA, ARCAPA and CAVF cases. The aim of the study is to provide evidence for protocolling the diagnostic work-up, treatment strategy and follow-up that can be used in daily clinical practice.