Coronary arteriographic lesion of unstable angina.

The morphology of the coronary arteriographic lesions in 109 patients with coronary disease was correlated with their clinical history. Unstable angina, characterized by new onset of angina, angina at rest, or an increase in frequency or ease of precipitation of attacks within the previous two months, was present in 73 patients (group A). The other 36 patients had no history of instability within two months (group B). "Type T" lesions, defined as eccentric narrowing with jagged irregular borders with overlapping or undermined areas, or intraluminal filling defects circumferentially outlined by contrast material were found in 73 percent of group 1 vs 47 percent of group B (p less than 0.01). The presence of these angiographic lesions suggests that a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque and/or thrombus commonly plays a role in the etiology of unstable angina.