OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the outcome of coronary angiography (CAG) and the severity of Xiongbi syndrome diagnosed according to "Guiding principle for clinical study on new traditional Chinese medicine in treating Xiongbi (angina pectoris)" (abbreviated as the principle).

METHODSSeverity of Xiongbi syndrome in 207 patients were graded according to the principle and they were examined with CAG by Judkins methods. The relationship between the outcome of CAG and severity of Xiongbi syndrome was analyzed.

RESULTSAbnormal rate of ECG was markedly higher in patients with lesion involving 1 or 2 branches of coronary artery than that in patients without coronary artery lesion (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found in that between patients with multiple-branches lesions and those without lesion. Comparison of Xiongbi syndrome severity showed that there was remarkable difference between patients with normal coronary artery and those with lesions involving different branches (P < 0.01), but no difference among patients with 1 or 2 branches and those with multiple-branches lesions; on the contrary, mild Xiongbi syndrome took up the highest rate (37%) in patients with multiple-branches lesions, and the rate was lower along with higher severity.

CONCLUSIONThere was no positive relationship between severity of Xiongbi syndrome and that of coronary artery disease.