الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study aimed at studying the clinical presentation of CAE, angiographic criteria regarding site, type, number of affected vessels and specific relation of these findings to serum matrix metalloproteinase in particular MMP-9 in 100 patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE) with the mean age of 52.24 years. All patients had different types of CAE (6 patients with type 1, 11 had type 2, 13 with type 3 and 70 patients had type 4 ectasia).
Regarding the gender of the studied population, it was shown that of all patients, 65 patients were males with a percentage of 65 % and 35 were females with a percentage of 35 %..
As regard risk factors distribution: 34% of all patients were smokers. Laboratory findings showed high total cholesterol in 60% and TLC (< 11,000 c/cmm) in 49% of all population versus 40 and 51% respectively with normal or low levels. Also, estimated GFR was low in 37% of patients. Notably, 45% of all studied population had high MMP-9 level (above 71ug/dl). Moreover, hypertension and diabetes were found in 53% and 43% versus 47% and 57 % respectively of patients who were non hypertensives or diabetics.
Chronic coronary syndrome (64 %) followed by acute coronary syndrome (36%) were the two most common clinical presentations for ectasia and reasons for coronary angiography.
Pointing to the predilection for site of coronary ectasia in our study, the most frequent affected artery was the right coronary artery with a percentage of 55 %. And regarding the number of ectatic vessels, one vessel ectasia was the most prevalent in our population in a percentage of 83%.
The results of our study showed a significant increase in the number of ectatic coronary arteries detected by coronary angiography among patients having hypertension compared to non-hypertensive patients.
On the contrary, Diabetes which is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic CAD was underrepresented in our study in comparison to other factors. Moreover, coronary angiography revealed significant relation between the number of ectatic coronary arteries and serum total cholesterol level.
MMP-9 level was also significant in relation to increasing number of ectatic coronary arteries supporting our hypothesis.
As regard relation of the type of ectasia in coronary arteries to risk factors, the only significant was hypertension and smoking supporting the positive remodeling theory of ectasia. MMP-9 was also elevated highly significantly with progressing type of coronary ectasia (from type 4 up to the more severe type 1)