Selective coronary arteriography: arteriographic patterns in coronary heart disease.

The severity and distribution of coronary arteriographic abnormalities have been reviewed in 88 patients with clinical evidence of coronary heart disease who were studied by Sones' technique. The patients were divided into four groups: myocardial infarction without angina, myocardial infarction with angina, angina with normal resting electrocardiogram, angina with abnormal resting electrocardiogram.Arteriographic abnormalities were generally diffuse throughout the coronary circulation, and at least two vessels were involved in 84 patients. Although the frequency of lesions was similar in the four groups of patients, those with previous myocardial infarction had the highest incidence of complete obstruction. Patients with angina and a normal resting electrocardiogram showed the least severe obstructive lesions. The severity of the arteriographic abnormalities was independent of the duration of clinical symptoms, and it appears that diffuse involvement of the coronary arterial tree is usually present when symptoms develop.