title: Implications of coronary angiography in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease.
abstract: The study analyzes the incidence of coronary lesions and their implications on the treatment offered in 500 consecutive non-selected patients (406 males (81%), age 60 +/- 10 (+/- 1 standard deviation), range 21-88 years) undergoing coronary angiography for suspicion or confirmation of coronary artery disease (excluding patients with congenital and pure valve disease, or cardiomyopathy). A history of myocardial infarction was present in 205 patients (41%). There were no prior cardiac procedures in 334 patients (67%). There was prior coronary angioplasty in 82 patients (16%), coronary artery bypass grafting in 44 (9%) and both in 4 (1%). A total of 36 patients (7%) had had prior coronary angiography only. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 61 +/- 12 (18-83%) and mean left ventricular end diastolic pressure was 12 +/- 6 (2-37) mmHg. Angiographically normal coronary arteries were present in 61 patients (12%) and non-significant coronary lesions in 70 patients (14%). One vessel disease was present in 169 patients (34%), two vessel disease in 97 (19%), three vessel disease in 88 (18%) and left main coronary artery disease in 15 (3%). In single vessel disease, involvement of the left anterior descending coronary artery was seen in 82 patients (49%), left circumflex coronary artery in 38 (22%) and right coronary artery in 49 (29%). In two vessel disease, involvement of the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery was present in 30 patients (31%), left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery in 36 (37%) and left circumflex coronary artery and right coronary artery in 31 (32%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Center, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pande
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rutishauser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left