Is TIMI Frame Count Correlated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy?

Is TIMI Frame Count Correlated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy? The TIMI frame count (TFC) has been proposed as a simple, reproducible, objective, and quantitative method to assess coronary blood flow. The TFC reflects coronary flow reserve. Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with a decrease in coronary reserve. Several factors have been shown to relate with TFC, but the relation between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and TFC has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether LVH affects TFC. The TFC was measured in 68 subjects without history of myocardial infarction and significant coronary stenosis. Determination of left ventricular mass index (LVMI) according to the formula of Devereux was performed, and LVH was defined by LVMI >134 g/m2 in men and >110 g/m2 in women. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence of LVH: group 1 with LVH (n = 31; aged 53 ± 13 years; 16 women), and group 2 without LVH (n = 37; aged 50 ±8 years; 16 women). The mean TFC in the right coronary artery (RCA) was significantly higher in group1 (24,1 ±4,9 frames) than in group 2 (20,9 ±5,4 frames, p = 0.01). The TFC in the RCA was significantly correlated with interventricular septum thickness (r = 0,36; p = 0,004) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (r = 0,33; p = 0,007), but not with LVMI (r = 0.18; p = 0.17). The mean TFC in the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (Cx) arteries were not different between the two groups. No correlation existed between TFC in the LAD or Cx and echocardiographic parameters. Left ventricular hypertrophy has significant effect on the TFC in the RCA. Therefore, studies comparing TFC need to consider LVH.