The Influence of Turning Angle on Proximal Sudanophilia in the Daughter Vessels at the Bifurcation of the Human Left Main Coronary Artery — Initial Results

Abstract The proximal portions of the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCX) coronary arteries are among the sites most predisposed to atherosclerotic disease (e.g., DeBakey et al, 1985). These regions are subject to relatively unusual hemodynamic environments by virtue of their location closely distal to the bifurcation of the left main (LM) coronary artery. The alterations in fluid dynamics generated by the branch might reasonably be expected to be influenced by the branch geometry. If fluid dynamic stresses play a role in the localization of atherosclerosis, then the geometry of the LM bifurcation may affect the progression of this disease in the proximal LAD and LCX.