title: How long do your angiographically normal coronary arteries remain normal? A pilot study.
abstract: Coronary atherosclerosis is a progressive disease. We sought to determine whether this fact also applies to patients at an advanced age with normal coronary arteries (NCAs) undergoing repeat catheterization at least 5 years later. Of the 189 patients who were found to have NCAs, 154 (81%) remained with NCAs and 35 (19%) developed obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD). Development of OCAD was observed at all ages. Isolated risk factors were not associated with the appearance of OCAD, but the combination of diabetes mellitus with age >65 years or with smoking was associated with the appearance of OCAD (P = .04 for both). In conclusion, the finding of angiographically NCAs in elderly individuals does not prevent the later development of OCAD.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Jean Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cafri
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobal
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherf
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel iliar@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ilia
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: atherosclerosis; normal coronary arteries; progression; risk factors