Implications of coronary angiography in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease.

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)