Tissue factor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor and cytoadhesive molecules in patients with an acute coronary syndrome

The tissue factor plays a crucial role in initiating blood coagulation after plaque rupture in patients with acute coronary syndrome. It is abundant in atherosclerotic plaques. Moreover, P-selectin, some cytokines, endotoxin and immune complexes can stimulate monocytes and induce the tissue factor expression on their surface. The aim of the study was to compare plasma levels of the tissue factor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, P-selectin, E-selectin and ICAM-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, stable coronary artery disease and normal control subjects. In addition, plasma levels of the tissue factor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, P-selectin, E-selectin and ICAM-1 were measured in the blood withdrawn from the coronary sinus in a subgroup of patients with unstable angina pectoris and stable coronary artery disease in which the difference between concentrations in the coronary sinus and systemic blood was calculated. A significant increase in tissue factor pathway inhibitor plasma levels was detected in patients with acute myocardial infarction (373.3+/-135.1 ng/ml, p<0.01) and unstable angina pectoris (119.6+/-86.9 ng/ml, p<0.05) in contrast to the patients with stable coronary artery disease (46.3+/-37.5 ng/ml) and normal subjects (45.1+/-14.3 ng/ml). The plasma levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor were significantly increased both in the coronary sinus and systemic blood in the patients with unstable angina pectoris. There was only a non-significant trend to higher plasma levels of the tissue factor in patients with acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris as compared to the patients with stable coronary artery disease and normal subjects, the values being 129.1+/-30.2 pg/ml, 130.5+/-57.8 pg/ml, 120.2+/-45.1 pg/ml and 124.9+/-31.8 pg/ml, respectively. Plasma levels of soluble P-selectin was only slightly, but non-significantly higher in patients with unstable angina pectoris and stable coronary artery disease (184.2+/-85.4 ng/ml and 201.6+/-67.9 ng/ml, respectively) than in patients with the acute myocardial infarction (157.4+/-88.4 ng/ml) or normal subjects (151.4+/-47.1 ng/ml). The difference in plasma levels of soluble ICAM-1 between the blood withdrawn from the coronary sinus and systemic circulation correlated significantly with the corresponding difference in plasma levels of soluble P-selectin and E-selectin. In conclusion, the tissue factor and the tissue factor pathway inhibitor play a crucial role in the initiation of arterial thrombosis. The tissue factor pathway inhibitor levels are increased both in the systemic blood and in the coronary sinus of patients with the acute coronary syndrome.     

Long-term follow-up after bypass surgery or coronary stenting in elderly with multivessel disease

Background

We sought to compare long-term follow-up of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with left main or multivessel disease, hypothesising that completeness of revascularisation and severity of coronary artery disease are predictors of adverse outcomes.

Methods

Patients aged ≥75 years with multivessel disease or left main disease who underwent PCI or CABG between 2012–2016 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Baseline characteristics from the index procedure were collected. Severity of coronary artery disease and completeness of revascularisation were assessed. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality, in addition we captured major adverse cardiac and cerebral events, bleedings, recurrent angina and new onset atrial fibrillation.

Results

A total of 597 patients were included. Median follow-up was 4 years (interquartile range 2.8–5.3 years). At baseline, patients in the PCI group more often had a previous medical history of CABG and more frequently underwent an urgent procedure compared with patients in the CABG group. Mortality at 5‑year follow-up was significantly higher in patients who underwent PCI compared with CABG (39.9% vs 25.4%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), repeat revascularisation and recurrent angina occurred more frequently after PCI, while occurrence of bleedings and new onset atrial fibrillation were more frequent after CABG. Neither completeness of revascularisation nor severity of coronary artery disease was a predictor for any of the outcomes.

Conclusion

Long-term mortality was higher in elderly patients with multivessel disease undergoing PCI compared with CABG. In addition, patients undergoing PCI had a higher risk of ACS, repeat revascularisation and recurrent angina.

     

Elderly and younger patients selected to undergo coronary angiography.

OBJECTIVE--To establish and compare the characteristics of older (greater than or equal to 70 years) and younger patients with chest pain selected to undergo coronary angiography and by analysis of their subsequent management to assess the value of coronary angiography for older patients with chest pain. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of clinical case notes and coronary angiography reports. SETTING--Cardiology department with referral population of one million in an Edinburgh hospital. PATIENTS--134 consecutive patients with chest pain aged 70 years or over investigated by coronary angiography between 1978 and 1988; 134 randomly selected patients aged under 70 investigated over the same period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Clinical and angiographic features at time of angiography and management after angiography. RESULTS--Older patients represented a small, but increasing, proportion of those investigated. Older patients had more severe symptoms at the time of angiography, were taking more antianginal drugs, and had had their symptoms for longer than younger patients. At angiography more older patients had triple vessel coronary disease, left main stem stenosis, or left ventricular impairment. After angiography similar proportions of older and younger patients underwent coronary artery surgery, with more elderly patients requiring urgent operation; although operative mortality was higher for elderly patients, symptomatic benefit was similar to that in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS--Older patients with angina selected to undergo coronary angiography and subsequent coronary surgery have more severe symptoms and underlying cardiac disease. Earlier referral and investigation might yield a population with lower operative risk. Selection of patients for coronary angiography and coronary artery surgery should be based on the potential for benefit and should avoid "agism."     

Venous Graft Surgery in Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease

Sixty-seven patients have had aortocoronary venous graft bypass surgery by one surgeon for the relief of symptoms of severe coronary heart disease, including eight emergency operations. The overall operative, hospital, and late mortality was low in patients with favourable myocardial function and no previous myocardial infarction. There was a 7% mortality in patients with a normal preoperative chest radiogram, 8% mortality when the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was normal preoperatively, and a 5% mortality in patients who had normal left ventricular angiograms. The overall mortality in all elective operations for cardiac pain resistant to medical treatment was 15·8%. 89% of survivors improved; 67% are pain-free. Exercise tolerance in survivors is increased by 135%, atrial pacing results are improved by 10%. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is unchanged. Left ventricular function on angiography is improved. The improvement in left ventricular function assessed objectively correlates positively with vein-graft patency, as does freedom from angina pectoris.     

男性内源性性激素水平与冠心病范围及左心室射血分数的相关性

摘要 目的：探究男性内源性性激素水平与冠心病范围及左心室射血分数（LVEF）的相关性。方法：将2018年6月至2020年6月于我院接受治疗的96例经冠状动脉造影术（CAG）确诊为冠心病的96例患者纳入研究,按照临床分型将其区分为稳定型心绞痛（SAP,30例）、不稳定型心绞痛（UAP,30例）、急性心肌梗死（AMI,36例）,另选同期CAG检测结果提示冠状动脉管腔直径狭窄率<50 %的50例个体为对照组,检测入组对象的睾酮（Ts）、雌二醇（E₂）水平,评估计算入组对象的Gensini积分以及LVEF,对比不同组别之间Ts、E₂、Gensini积分以及LVEF差异,Spearman相关分析探究Ts、E₂与Gensini积分、LVEF的相关性,最后将患者按照Genisini评分区分为狭窄轻型组与严重组,Logistic回归分析影响冠脉狭窄的危险因素。结果：（1）比较显示,冠心病各组间Ts、E₂、Gensini积分以及LVEF差异明显,以AMI组患者Ts、E₂和LVEF水平最低,Gensini积分最高（P<0.05）;（2）Spearman相关性分析显示,Ts、E₂均与Gensini积分呈负相关,与LVEF呈正相关（P<0.05）;（3）多因素Logistic回归分析显示Ts、E₂水平是影响冠脉狭窄程度的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：男性内源性性激素水平同其冠心病范围和LVEF呈现密切相关性,是影响冠脉狭窄程度的独立危险因素,可以考虑将其应用于临床冠脉狭窄的诊断与鉴别中。     

Clinical characteristics, cardiac events and coronary angiographic findings in the prospective PREVEND cohort: an observational study

Background: The use of invasive procedures has mostly been studied in retrospective (multi)- national registries. Limited evidence exists on the association between microalbuminuria and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and invasive cardiac procedures was registered between 1997 and 2003 in 8139 subjects, without prior documented CAD, in the PREVEND cohort study (the Netherlands), in which the focus is on microalbuminuria and cardiovascular risk. Qualitative coronary angiographic analysis was performed. Results: During 5.5 years of follow-up, a first MACE occurred in 271 (3.3%) and a first coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in 264 (3.2%) subjects. Of these, 216 CAGs were available for qualitative angiographic analysis. Indications for CAG were stable angina in 129, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in 55 and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 32 subjects. Obstructive coronary artery disease was present in 61, 53 and 30 subjects, respectively. A revascularisation was performed in 50 (39%), 50 (91%) and 25 (78%) subjects, respectively. Microalbuminuria was associated with a first MACE, after adjustment for established risk factors. Microalbuminuria was present at baseline in 9% of subjects with normal coronary arteries, in 21% of subjects with one- and two-vessel CAD and in 39% of subjects with threevessel or left main CAD at CAG during follow-up (Ptrend=0.005). Conclusion: This large cohort study shows that two-thirds of diagnostic CAGs for stable angina were not followed by a revascularisation, in contrast to CAGs for STEMI or ACS. Furthermore, this study shows that microalbuminuria is associated with CAD. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:133-41.)     

Course of angina pectoris after an acute coronary event.

The course of postcoronary angina pectoris was examined in 555 men who had survived a first attack of myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Patients were aged less than 60 and were followed up yearly for up to 17 years. Only 25 (4.5%) had coronary artery bypass surgery. Most patients with angina were treated by nitrates alone. One year after infarction 24.1% of survivors (124/515) reported the presence of angina pectoris, and the proportions at five, 10, and 15 years were 29.9%, 30.4%, and 43.5% respectively. Seventeen years after the initial event 35.3% of the survivors had never reported postcoronary anginal symptoms. The patients who experienced anginal symptoms in the year after their coronary attack had a poorer long term survival than the group who were symptom free over the first year. These patients also had longer subsequent periods with angina, though in 41.7% angina resolved before death after a median of 2.9 years. Throughout follow up mortality during periods in which patients experienced angina was higher than in the symptom free periods. This long term follow up study of patients after a coronary event confirms that the presence or absence of angina may vary considerably over time in patients treated medically and that the presence of angina is associated with a poorer prognosis. These findings have important implications when assessing the effects of various treatment modalities on postcoronary angina, including coronary artery bypass surgery.     

Delayed diagnosis of symptomatic coronary artery disease in young men

Delay in making the diagnosis of symptomatic coronary artery disease was determined by studying the medical histories of 265 men aged 24.7 to 49.9 (mean 40.1) years with angiographically proven obstructive coronary atherosclerosis. The diagnosis of angina pectoris was delayed three times as often as the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, and for five times as long. The diagnosis of symptomatic coronary artery disease was delayed three and a half times more often in patients less than 35 years of age, than in patients over 45; the average time from presentation with symptoms to diagnosis was 30 times longer in patients under 35 years of age than in patients over 45.     

运动康复训练对冠心病多支病变患者运动耐量及血脂的影响

目的:探讨运动康复训练对冠心病多支病变患者活动耐量及血脂的影响。方法:选取冠心病多支病变患者,所有患者均进行不完全血运重建术,分为运动康复训练组及对照组,运动康复训练组自术后第三日起治疗组进行运动康复训练,对照组对运动量无要求。3月后,测量两组患者血脂水平及6分钟步行试验,比较两组患者步行距离、心绞痛发作次数、运动至心绞痛出现时间、6分钟内累积运动时间及血脂水平。结果:经运动康复训练治疗3月后,治疗组6分钟步行距离、运动至心绞痛出现时间及运动累积时间较对照组均明显增加,发生心绞痛次数较对照组明显减少。运动康复训练组治疗后甘油三酯、总胆固醇及低密度脂蛋白水平较治疗前明显降低,对照组仅总胆固醇有所降低,甘油三酯及低密度脂蛋白水平较治疗前无统计学差异。结论:运动康复训练可减少冠心病多支病变患者心绞痛发作次数,增加患者运动耐量并调节血脂代谢。     

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION FOLLOWING CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY

Myocardial infarction has been the major cause of mortality following operation for cerebrovascular insufficiency. In our institution, a clinical diagnosis of coronary artery disease was made in 37 of 125 (29.6%) consecutive male patients having carotid endarterectomy. Six of these 37 patients developed postoperative myocardial infarction. In contrast, none of the 88 patients without coronary artery disease developed myocardial infarction. A more recently treated group of 20 patients who had undergone carotid artery surgery and had previously undergone coronary artery bypass for angina did not develop postoperative myocardial infarction. These data suggest that in patients with both coronary artery and carotid artery disease, prior or concomitant coronary artery bypass should be considered. Myocardial infarction has been the leading cause of early and late death following operation for cerebrovascular insufficiency.(1) DeBakey(2) found operative mortality in patients having surgery for cerebrovascular insufficiency directly related to the incidence of coronary artery disease. An increased operative mortality due to reinfarction has been found in patients recovering from recent myocardial infarction.(3) Cooley(4) found that in patients having aortocoronary bypass there was no increased operative mortality 30 days after myocardial infarction and this may apply to patients having carotid endarterectomy. Subendocardial postoperative infarction associated with minor T wave changes and slight enzyme elevation had a better prognosis than did transmural infarction causing significant Q waves, sequential ST and T wave changes and marked enzyme elevations.(5) The purpose of this study was to document our experience with myocardial infarction in patients undergoing carotid artery operation for clinical coronary artery disease. Consideration of the role of saphenous vein bypass in those patients with coronary artery disease was the background for this review even though the evidence that myocardial infarction can be prevented with saphenous vein bypass operation is only preliminary at the present time.(6)     

Double-blind Evaluation of Verapamil,Propranolol, and Isosorbide Dinitrate against a Placebo in the Treatment of Angina Pectoris

In the treatment of angina pectoris a double-blind evaluation of verapamil (Cordilox) at two dose levels—namely, 80 mg thrice daily and 120 mg thrice daily—propranolol (Inderal) 100 mg thrice daily, and isosorbide dinitrate (Vascardin) 20 mg thrice daily has been made against a placebo. The assessment was based on relief from daily attacks of angina on effort and the response to a whole-body exercise test. We can find no statistically significant difference between the effects of verapamil (120 mg three times a day) and propranolol (100 mg three times a day) in the treatment of angina of effort. Both of these preparations are more effective than a placebo both in the reduction of daily attacks (P < 0·01) and in the prolongation of exercise test (P < 0·05). Isosorbide dinitrate (20 mg three times a day) appears to be no more effective than a placebo in the treatment of angina on effort, but 14 out of 32 patients experienced headache of such severity that even when the dose was reduced to 10 mg thrice daily this drug therapy had to be withdrawn. Both propranolol (100 mg three times a day) and verapamil (120 mg three times a day) had a significant lowering effect on the diastolic blood pressure as measured with the patient standing (P < 0·01).     

Cineangiography of the Coronary Arteries: Clinical,Functional and Anatomic Correlation in Patients with Chronic Chest Pain

Fifty French-Canadian patients presenting with typical or atypical anginal pain were studied by selective cinearteriography and coronary sinus catheterization, with measurement of myocardial function, oxygen and lactate extraction at rest and during isoproterenol infusion. In 28 of 42 patients all three coronary arteries were involved, but angina pectoris also occurred in patients with single mildly stenotic arterial lesions and even in eight patients with normal cinearteriograms. All patients with severe arterial lesions had typical angina, and the longer the duration of angina, the greater the extent, usually, of anatomic disease. Seventy-nine percent of resting electrocardiograms of patients with documented coronary artery disease were abnormal, with recognizable prior infarction in 18. Two-thirds of the patients experiencing pain during the stressful state had abnormal ventricular function. An abnormal arteriovenous lactate difference in response to isoproterenol occurred in patients in all groups.     

Natural history of coronary artery disease in relation to angiographic, hemodynamic and clinical factors

Studying the natural history of coronary artery disease could provide a frame of reference for prognosis and appraisal of treatment for patients having this disease. We studied a total of 465 consecutive patients with angiographically significant coronary artery disease, defined as greater than 50% stenosis in at least one principal artery, who were followed with medical treatment only from 1 to 7 years. Excluding patients with left main coronary disease, there were 73 deaths, of whom 63 were cardiac. The 5-year cumulative survival rates were 72% for the entire group, 87% for single vessel disease, 73% for double vessel disease and 51% for triple vessel disease. In single vessel disease, patients with left anterior descending artery involvement tended to have higher mortality. In double vessel disease, survival was worse with the combination of left anterior descending and right coronary artery involvements than the other 2 combinations. A history of myocardial infarction was not significantly different from angina in 5-year survival rate. Nevertheless, an abnormal Q-wave in ECG was associated with lower survival. History of hypertension and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy did not affect survival. While congestive heart failure, abnormal resting LVEDP and left ventricular asynergy were all associated with reduced survival. The left ventricular ejection fraction had highly prognostic value, only 42% of patients survived with ejection fraction less than 0.3 at the end of 5 years after angiography.     

心可舒片联合盐酸地尔硫卓片治疗老年冠心病心绞痛的临床研究

摘要 目的：探讨心可舒片联合盐酸地尔硫卓片治疗老年冠心病心绞痛的临床疗效。方法：按照随机数字表法将湖北民族大学附属民大医院和武汉市江夏区第一人民医院2019年4月-2021年9月间收治的98例老年冠心病心绞痛患者分为对照组（盐酸地尔硫卓片治疗,n=49）和观察组（心可舒片联合盐酸地尔硫卓片治疗,n=49）。观察两组疗效、心绞痛缓解情况、血脂指标、血管内皮功能指标、心功能指标、血液流变学指标和不良反应发生情况。结果：观察组的临床总有效率高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗4周后,与对照组相比,观察组的心绞痛发作频率减少,全血黏度、甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、内皮素-1（ET-1）、血浆比黏度、左室收缩末期内径（LVESD）、红细胞压积更低,一氧化氮（NO）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、左心室射血分数（LVEF）、心排血量（CO）更高,心绞痛发作持续时间缩短（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：心可舒片联合盐酸地尔硫卓片治疗老年冠心病心绞痛,可缓解心绞痛症状,改善血液流变学、心功能、血脂和血管内皮功能。     

心率减速力及连续心率减速力对冠心病心脏性猝死的预警价值

目的：通过心率减速力（DC）及连续心率减速力（DRs）检测技术对老年冠心病患者进行风险分层,探讨其对心脏性猝死的预警价值。方法：随机选择经冠状动脉造影（CAG）确诊为冠心病（CHD）的患者218例作为观察组,其中隐匿性CHD 55例,急性心肌梗死（AMI）56例,心绞痛（AP）53例,缺血性心力衰竭（IHF）54例。同期选取在本院进行健康体检者55例（对照组）,对各组患者行24 h动态心电图检查,应用软件系统分析并计算出DC值及DRs值进行统计分析。结果：CHD各亚组（AMI组、AP组、IHF组、隐匿性CHD组）的DC值及DRs值均明显降低,与正常组比较,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.01）;DC值与DRs值所提示CAD各亚组的危险分级明显高于正常组,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.01）;冠状动脉造影显示冠脉病变数量越多范围越大,病情越重,这与DC、DRs所提示CHD各亚组的危险分级相一致。结论：心率减速力和连续心率减速力能够测定分析迷走神经功能,对冠心病患者进行危险分级,对高危人群有较高的预警价值,可作为预警冠心病患者发生心脏性猝死的敏感指标。     

Global revascularization: the role of the cardiologist

There are compelling reasons for cardiologists to undertake a more global approach to patients with peripheral vascular diseases: atherosclerosis is a 'systemic' disease frequently causing both coronary and peripheral vascular problems in the same patient; coronary artery disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with peripheral vascular disease; and peripheral vascular disease negatively impacts the management of angina pectoris and congestive heart failure. There are four major areas of special interest to the cardiologist: (1) iliac arteries (vascular access), (2) renal arteries (hypertension and volume overload), (3) subclavian arteries (coronary steal with a left internal mammary artery [LIMA] graft), and (4) carotid arteries (stroke). Technical skills necessary to perform coronary angioplasty are transferable to the peripheral vasculature. However, an understanding of the natural history of peripheral disease, patient and lesion selection criteria, and knowledge of other treatment alternatives are essential to performing these procedures safely and effectively. Appropriate preparation and training, and a team approach, including an experienced vascular surgeon, are both desirable and necessary before interventional cardiologists who are inexperienced in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease attempt percutaneous peripheral angioplasty. There are inherent advantages for patients when the cardiologist performing the procedure is also a clinician. Judgments regarding the indications, timing, and risk/benefit ratio of procedures are enhanced by a long-term relationship between physician and patient. Finally, in view of the increased incidence of coronary artery disease in patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, the participation of a cardiologist in their care seems appropriate.     

常规心电图与冠脉造影术在冠心病诊断中的效果分析

目的:探讨常规心电图(ECG)与冠脉造影术(CAG)在冠心病诊断中的效果。方法:选取100例冠心病患者,入院后先行CAG,后经ECG检查,通过CAG检查的冠脉狭窄程度、冠脉病变支数与ECG检查结果的对比两种检查方法对冠心病诊断结果,评价ECG与CAG在冠心病诊断中的临床价值。结果:CAG诊断冠心病的阳性诊断率82.0%,ECG诊断冠心病阳性诊断率为79.0%,两组阳性诊断率相比,无统计学差异(P0.05)。ECG对三组冠心病患者的灵敏度分别为65.0%,92.6%,96.9%,冠脉狭窄程度50%-70%时,灵敏度低于其他两组(P0.05)。经CAG诊断为冠脉单支病变、双支病变、三支病变患者,采用ECG诊断时,组间灵敏度相比,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:ECG多支病变冠心病患者容易出现漏诊、误诊情况,CAG与ECG诊断灵敏度相当,可直观反映冠脉病变情况。     

Coronary artery fistulas

The aetiology of congenital coronary artery fistulas remains a challenging issue. Coronary arteries with an anatomically normal origin may, for obscure reasons, terminate abnormally and communicate with different single or multiple cardiac chambers or great vessels. When this occurs, the angiographic morphological appearance may vary greatly from discrete channels to plexiform network of vessels. Coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVFs) have neither specific signs nor pathognomonic symptoms; the spectrum of clinical features varies considerably. The clinical presentation of symptomatic cases can include angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, fatigue, dyspnoea, CHF, SBE, ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias or even sudden cardiac death. CAVFs may, however, be a coincidental finding during diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG). CAG is considered the gold standard for diagnosing and delineating the morphological anatomy and pathway of CAVFs. There are various tailored therapeutic modalities for the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of CAVFs, including conservative pharmacological strategy, percutaneous transluminal embolisation and surgical ligation.     

Human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is present in atherosclerotic plaques and induces death of vascular smooth muscle cells: a laboratory study

Background

A diverse range of factors influence clinicians' decisions regarding the allocation of patients to different treatments for coronary artery disease in routine cardiology clinics. These include demographic measures, risk factors, co-morbidities, measures of objective cardiac disease, symptom reports and functional limitations. This study examined which of these factors differentiated patients receiving angioplasty from medication; bypass surgery from medication; and bypass surgery from angioplasty.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on patient data from 214 coronary artery disease patients who at the time of recruitment had been received a clinical assessment and were reviewed by their cardiologist in order to determine the form of treatment they were to undergo: 70 would receive/continue medication, 71 were to undergo angioplasty and 73 were to undergo bypass surgery.

Results

Analyses differentiating patients receiving angioplasty from medication produced 9 significant univariate predictors, of which 5 were also multivariately significant (left anterior descending artery disease, previous coronary interventions, age, hypertension and frequency of angina). The analyses differentiating patients receiving surgery from angioplasty produced 12 significant univariate predictors, of which 4 were multivariately significant (limitations in mobility range, circumflex artery disease, previous coronary interventions and educational level). The analyses differentiating patients receiving surgery from medication produced 14 significant univariate predictors, of which 4 were multivariately significant (left anterior descending artery disease, previous cerebral events, limitations in mobility range and circumflex artery disease).

Conclusion

Variables emphasised in clinical guidelines are clearly involved in coronary artery disease treatment decisions. However, variables beyond these may also be important factors when therapy decisions are undertaken thus their roles require further investigation.     

NONCARDIAC SURGERY COMBINED WITH CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS

The coexistence of coronary artery disease with noncardiac disease often leads to a dilemma in planning therapeutic procedures. This problem is especially difficult in the presence of accelerated angina or left coronary artery stenosis. A series of 17 patients is presented in which coronary artery bypass grafts were combined with noncardiac operations without mortality or significant morbidity. An illustrative case report shows the interrelated nature of the coexisting disorders. The conclusion of this study is that, at times, various surgical procedures should be combined with coronary artery bypass grafting for a smoother, less complicated recovery. However, there are no hard and fast rules dictating combined procedures; each operation must be planned according to the existing conditions and needs of the individual patient.