Normal angiogram in acute coronary syndrome-preangiographic risk stratification, angiographic findings and follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Coronary angiographies performed during acute coronary syndrome show different coronary morphologies-vessel occlusions, thrombi and various types of stenoses. In a few cases of acute coronary syndrome, angiography reveals normal coronary arteries. It is the purpose of this study to analyze this specific subset of patients who presented with an acute coronary syndrome but had a normal coronary angiogram with respect to the preangiographic diagnostics, risk stratification and clinical follow-up.


RESULTS
A total of 897 coronary angiographies were performed as an emergency procedure in our institution. The majority of patients (n = 821) presented with coronary artery disease and the majority was treated by mechanical revascularization (86.3%). In 76 patients (8.5%), no coronary artery stenosis was documented. However, according to the preangiographic risk stratification, coronary artery disease was expected in these patients. Observations documented angiographically included coronary spasms (6.6%) and muscle bridges (5.3%). During a mean follow-up of 11.2 +/- 6.4 months, one patient developed an acute myocardial infarction requiring coronary intervention. All other patients were free of any cardiac event.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, we have to consider that coronary angiography may not always detect the cause of myocardial ischemia in every patient. There is a small group of patients with normal coronary angiograms during acute coronary syndrome. Additional diagnostic procedures like intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or the assessment of intracoronary physiological parameters may increase the diagnostic value of angiography.
Germing
A
A
Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken Bergmannsheil, University of Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany. alfried.germing@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Lindstaedt
M
M
Ulrich
S
S
Grewe
P
P
Bojara
W
W
Lawo
T
T
von Dryander
S
S
Jäger
D
D
Machraoui
A
A
Mügge
A
A
Lemke
B
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013577:Syndrome