title: Prodromal chest pains: clues to the pathogenesis of non-Q wave acute myocardial infarction?
abstract: Prodromal chest pains were recorded from consecutive admissions to a single coronary care unit and the symptoms of those with Q wave and non-Q wave acute myocardial infarction were compared. Of 809 admissions there were 201 with Q wave ad 88 with non-Q wave infarction. The non-Q wave infarction group was older, included more women and a greater proportion had suffered a previous myocardial infarct. Effort angina was equally common in both groups, but in the Q wave infarction group, angina was more often of recent onset, within the previous 4 weeks. Symptoms to indicate worsening angina, more prolonged, intense or frequent pain, were equally common in both groups. These findings suggest that although the extent of coronary artery disease may differ, Q wave and non-Q wave myocardial infarction share a common pathogenic mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Connell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors