Angiographic coronary artery lesion morphology and pathogenetic mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in stable and unstable coronary artery disease syndromes.
The angiographic morphology of coronary artery stenoses was studied in 160 patients referred for diagnostic coronary arteriography. Three groups of patients were studied: 60 patients with stable angina, 78 patients with unstable angina and 22 patients with a recent myocardial infarction. Complex lesions were more frequently observed in patients with unstable angina (59%, p less than 0.001) and in patients with a recent myocardial infarction (54%, p less than 0.05) then in patients with stable angina (25%). Angiographic signs suggestive for the presence of intravascular thrombi were almost exclusively observed in the patients with unstable angina (34%, p less than 0.001) and in the patients with a recent myocardial infarction (27%, P less than 0.001) and were almost completely absent in the patients with stable angina (1.5%). The high prevalence of complex coronary artery lesion morphology and of intravascular thrombi observed in patients with unstable angina or with a recent myocardial infarction emphasizes the important role of intima disruption and of subsequent thrombosis in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia in those unstable syndromes of ischemic heart disease.
Cools
F J
FJ
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
Vrints
C J
CJ
Snoeck
J P
JP
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000150:complications; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies