BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that inflammation is an important determinant of the development of atherosclerosis and that oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) obviously plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We assessed the levels of oxidized LDL and inflammatory markers in patients with ischemic heart disease and normal group who has normal coronary angiograms. METHODS: Coronary angiography was performed in 142 patients. 107 patients of ischemic heart disease (stable angina pectoris 58, unstable angina pectoris 30, acute myocardial infarction 19) and 38 normal control subjects. We assessed the level of oxidized LDL and inflammatory markers, such as CRP, ESR, fibrinogen and leukocyte. RESULTS: CRP was 3.88+/-2.05 mg/dL in acute myocardial infarction group, and 0.29+/-0.15 mg/dL in normal control subject group (p<0.05). Fibrinogen was 541.6+/-45.1 mg/dL in acute myocardial infarction group, 321.4+/-25.6 mg/dL in normal control subject group (p<0.05). Leukocyte was 10942.1+/-737.6/mm3 in acute myocardial infarction group, 6394.3+/-235.1/mm3 in normal control subject group (p<0.05). Oxidized LDL was 23.0+/-4.0 EU/mL in acute myocardial infarction group, and 16.2+/-1.5 EU/mL in normal control subject group (p<0.05). CRP, ESR and fibrinogen values of the patients with stable angina pectoris and unstable angina pectoris were higher than that of normal control group, but there were no statistical significance. Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) and Leukocyte value of the patients with unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction was significantly higher than that of the patients with stable angina pectoris and normal control subjects (p<0.05). CRP, ESR and fibrinogen values of the patients with acute myocardial infarction were also higher than that of normal control subjects. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate that CRP, fibrinogen and oxidized LDL, leukocyte values of acute myocardial infarction group were significantly higher than that of control group and stable, unstable angina pectoris group. Oxidized LDL and Leucokyte values were also significantly elevated in unstable angina group, but CRP values were not in unstable angina group.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; Lipoproteins ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As previously reported, unstable angina is usually related to characteristic coronary artery lesion's morphology analyzed by coronary angiogram. This takes the form of an eccentrically placed convex stenosis with a narrow neck due to one or more overhanging edges or irregular, scalloped borders, or both. Although most studies were done for lesions with high degree stenosis(>50%), recent studies emphasized the role of vulnerability of plaque in acute coronary syndrome and even mild degree stenotic lesions may progress rapidly to evoke acute coronary syndrome. Therefore in this study, we analyzed the morphological characteristics of coronary artery lesions with mild degree stenosis as well as severe stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 96 patients with angina pectoris (42 of stable patients and 54 of unstable patients) who underwent coronary angiography. Each lesions with 25% or greater diameter stenosis were categorized into simple and complex lesion(convex intraluminal obstruction with a narrow neck or irregular borders, diffuse irregularities, ulceration, thrombus). Calcification of coronary artery, extents of lesions were analyzed and stenosis grade and location were categorized by AHA classification. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the stable angina and unstable angina in risk factors and vessel involvement, numbers of lesions, calcification and total obstruction. In morphologic analysis, complex lesions were more frequent in unstable angina than stable angina (49% vs 33%, p<0.05). The mean of percent diameter stenosis was not signigicantly different between two groups, but severe stenotic lesions with 90% or more stenosis were more frequent in unstable angina (34% vs 22%, p<0.05). Locations of involved vessels were similar between the angina groups. Complex lesions were distributed more frequent in RCA and simple lesions were more in LAD and LCX (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The lesions with both complex morphology and severe degree stenosis are closely implicated in unstable angina.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable* ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Neck ; Pectinidae ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: The coronary collateral circulation has been frequently observed in significant coronary artery disease and its protective role in ischemic myocardium is still remained unclear. But the study on the anti-ischemic effect in human model of ischemic myocardium is rare. METHODS: To observe the anti-ischemic role of coronary collateral circulation in ischemic myocardium, perfusion defect areas were measured during PTCA(percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) in angina patients with single vessel disease and analyzed according to the grade of collateral circulation. The 99mTc-MIBI myocardial scanning images were obtained at 24 hours before PTCA with dipyridamole stress, at ballooning during PTCA and at 24 hours after the opening of the artery and perfusion defect volume ratios(DVR) were measured in each of the images of the patient with angina and single vessel disease. RESULTS: 1) Studied subjects were 14 patients(10 male, 4 female, mean age : 56.6+/-103) and subdivided into two groups. All patients had angina with single vessel disease, 7 proximal left anterior descending artery(LAD) stenosis, 4 middle LAD stenosis, 1 middle right coronary artery(RCA) stenosis and 2 proximal left circumflex artery(LCX) stenosis. Group A was composed of 7 patients with angina and coronary collateral circulation more than grade 1. Group B was 7 patients with angina and grade 0 collateral. 2) Mean age of group A was 62.4+/-8.2 years, 5 male and 2 female patients, That of group B was 56.6+/-8.9 years and all male patients. Group A was composed of 7 patients ; 5 unstable and 2 stable angina ; 2 proximal LAD stenosis, 3 midddle LAD stenosis, 1 middle RCA stenosis and 1 proximal LCX stenosis. One patients had grade 1, two patients grade 2 and four patients grade 3 coronary collateral circulation. All of the patients were unstable angina in group B showing 5 proximal LAD stenosis, 1 middle RCA stenosis and 1 proximal LCX stenosis. No collateral circulation was demonstrated in group B. 3) In group A, DVR was 17.5+/-13.9% on stress image before PTCA and 7.1+/-1.4% on the ballooning image during PTCA. DVR was smaller in ballooning image than in stress image(p<0.01). 4) In group B, DVR was 12.4+/-16.0% on stress image before PTCA and 26.6+/-10.0% on ballooning image during PTCA. DVR was larger in ballooning image than in stress image(p<0.001). 5) DVR on stress image and open image were not different in both groups, but DVR on ballooning image were 7.1+/-4.7% in group A and 26.6+/-10.0% in group B, which was larger than in group A(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that myocardial perfusion defect area may be smaller in angina patients with good collateral circulation than patients with no collateral, and coronary collateral circulation have a protective role on the jeopardized myocardium during coronary artery occlusion.
Angina Pectoris* ; Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Dipyridamole ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium ; Perfusion*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma adiponectin, which decreases the progression of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance, as well as suppressing lipid accumulation in macrophages, is decreased in patients with acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris; however, the correlation between plasma adiponectin and vasospastic angina pectoris (VAP) remains to be verified. We compared the plasma adiponectin concentration between patients with VAP and other coronary artery diseases; moreover, we investigated the association between the plasma adiponectin concentration and VAP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Following coronary angiography for the evaluation of chest pain, 395 subjects (180 women and 215 men) were divided into 4 groups: acute coronary syndrome (ACS)(n=117), VAP (n=94), stable angina pectoris (SAP)(n=108) and angiographically normal coronary artery (n=76). The acetylcholine provocation test was used to confirm VAP, and plasma adiponectin concentrations were measured in all participants. RESULTS: The plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with VAP and ACS were significantly lower than that of the normal coronary artery group (6.6+/-5.4 vs. 5.2+/-4.0 vs. 9.0+/-6.2 microgram/mL, p<0.001, respectively). A multivariate analysis indicated that plasma adiponectin [odd ratio (OR) 0.744, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.645 to 0.858, p=0.001], smoking (OR 2.054, 95% CI 1.027 to 4.106, p=0.042) and age (OR 0.966, 95% CI 0.935 to 0.997, p=0.031) were independently correlated in patients diagnosed with VAP. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a decreased plasma adiponectin concentration may be associated with VAP.
Acetylcholine ; Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Adiponectin* ; Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Macrophages ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Plasma* ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Unstable angina is an inhomogenous syndrome. A substantial percentage of patients, ranging from 12 to 30% in most series, develops acute myocardial infarction or dies suddenly soon after their hospitalization, while the remainder have a benign prognosis without adverse coronary events. Unstable angina is a complex condition such as angina at rest, crescendo angina, new onset angina and postinfarction angina. These variable clinical presentations suggest that unstable angina have a heterogenous pathogenesis and prognosis. We divided unstable angina into 5 groups and studied the relationship between clinical presentations and coronary angiographic morphology. METHODS: One hundred sixty six patients were selected from the patients who were diagnosed as an unstable angina between January 1989 and March 1991, at Hallym University Hospital. Angiography was performed in patient with typical angina symptoms and transient ECG changes of myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiogram was done as usual method. Calcification of coronary artery as well as the presence of collateral circulation were recorded. Ergonovine test was performed in patients with near normal or normal angiogram. Coronary lesions were morphologically classified as follows; type A is simple lesion such as symmetric, concentric narrowing and smooth border. and type B is complex lesion such as asymmetric, eccentric, ulcerated narrowing and irregular border. RESULTS: These groups were classified as follows; Group I(represented the patients with angina at rest but typical Prinzmetal angina was excluded) 30 patients, Group II(represented the patients with crescendo angina) 24 patients, Group III(represented the patients with new onset angina) 62 patients, Group IVA(represented the patients with early postinfarction angina within 2 weeks after AMI) 34 patients, Group IVB(represented the patients with delayed postinfarction angina) 16 patients, There were no significant differences in age and sex among the 5 groups. Locations of involved vessel were similar among the five groups, and left anterior descending artery was most frequently(mean 60%) involved. Single vessel disease was frequently observed in new onset angina and early postinfarction angina(Group III*, IVa** 48%, 65% VS Group II, IVB 25%, 19% respectively, *p<0.05, **p<0.005) whereas multivessel disease was frequent in crescendo angina and delayed postinfarction angina(Group II, IVB 51%, 76% VS Group II, IVA 16%, 27% respectively, p<0.005). More than two third of patients with unstable angina had complex B lesion of coronary artery (77%), but in new onset angina simple A lesion was frequently observed (Group III 45% VS Group I, IVA, IVB 16%, 10%, 13% respectively, p<0.05). The frequency of calcification increased in early postinfarction angina(Group IVA 18% VS Group III 3%, p<0.05). The frequency of coronary collateral circulation increased in cresendo angina, early postinfarction and delayed postinfarcion angina(Group II*, IVA*, IVB** 38%, 35%, 50% VS Group III 10% respectively, *p<0.005.**p<0.0001). Incidence of coronary vasospasm was higher in resting angina than the others(Group I*, III 30%, 19% VS Group II, IVA 4%, 6% respectively, *p<0.02). The coronary vasospasm was frequently observed in an insignificant lesion(insignificant lesion/total vasopasm: 12/24(50%)). Early postinfarction angina had frequent intracoronary thrombus in infact-related artery(incidence of thrombus : Group IVA*, IVB 21%, 13% VS Group I, II, III 3%, 4%, 5% respectively, *p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients with unstable angina pectoris may be heterogeneous groups. Coronary angiography must be performed in patients with unstable angina, in order to classify the clinical correlates with each possible angiogrphic finding that could affect treatment modality and outcome of cardiac events.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Angina, Unstable* ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Trimetazidine(Vastinan(R)) is a new antianginal agent of different action mechanism specifically targeted at the metabolic cellular consequences of myocardial ischemia. The clinical efficacy of the Trimetazidine in angina pectoris is still to be defined. METHOD: To determine the antianginal effect of trimetazidine in the treatment of ischemic heart disease, 15 patients with stable angina(12 male, 3 female, mean age : 59.3 years) were studied. In 6 cases as a single agent and in 9 cases as an additive regimen to conventional antianginal medications. Trimetazidine(20mg 3 times daily) was given for 30 days or more to evaluate the clinical effect. Graded exercise tests were carried out before the trial of Trimetazidine and on the 30th day of the treatment period. RESULTS: 1) The number of episodes of anginal attacks decreased from 4.2+/-2.7 to 2.0+/-0.5 a week(p<0.05) after treatment with Trimetazidine. 2) Trimetazidine also significantly increased the duration of total exercise from 12.1+/-4.7 min to 14.5+/-3.3 min(p<0.05), and the time to 1mm ST segment depression from 7.7+/-5.9 min to 11.7+/-5.2 min(p<0.05) on treadmill exercise by modified Bruce protocol. 3) Total workload (METs) and rate pressure double product(heart rate x systolic blood pressure) slightly increased, but the differences were not significant statistically. 4) No serious clinical side effects were observed during the treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the Trimetazidine is an effective and safe as an antianginal drug in the treatment of stable angina patients as a single agent and as an additive regimen when the patients are refractory to conventional drugs.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable* ; Depression ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Trimetazidine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between lipid profile and coronary plaque tissue characteristics in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between tissue characteristics and lipid profile and predictors of unstable plaques (UPs) in patients with SAP by virtual histology intravascular ultrasonography (VH-IVUS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: VH-IVUS was performed for target lesions in patients with SAP (61.7+/-9.2 years, 174 males, n=266) at the time of coronary angiography. UPs are characterized by thin-cap fibroatheroma, ruptured plaque, or remaining thrombus with VH-IVUS. RESULTS: The present study showed that 34 SAP patients had UPs (61.6+/-9.2 years, 24 males, 12.8%). The percentage of plaque area in the minimum luminal area in high low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio patients was significantly higher than in low LDL-C/HDL-C ratio patients (72.7+/-9.5% vs. 69.9+/-9.3%, p=0.035). An LDL-C/HDL-C ratio >2.0 was an independent predictor for UPs in SAP patients (odds ratio 5.252, 95% confidence interval 1.132-24.372, p=0.034). CONCLUSION: An elevated LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is a positive predictor for coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with SAP.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Success rates of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have recently been reported to range from 80% to 90%. A better understanding of the pathologic characteristics of the CTO lesion may helpful to improving CTO PCI success rates. We evaluated the CTO lesion in patients with stable angina (SA) by virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 149 consecutive patients with SA underwent VH-IVUS examination. We analyzed demographic and VH-IVUS findings in 22 CTO patients (17 males; mean, 62.3 years old) compared with 127 non-CTO patients (82 males; mean, 61.3 years old). RESULTS: A significantly lower ejection fraction (57.6+/-13.0% vs. 65.4+/-8.8%, p=0.007) was detected in the CTO group compared with the non-CTO group. Reference vessel lumen area of the proximal and distal segment was significantly less in CTO group than in non-CTO group. The lesion length of the CTO group was significantly longer than those of the non-CTO group (24.4+/-9.6 mm vs. 17.2+/-7.4 mm, p<0.001). Total atheroma volume (224+/-159 mm3 vs. 143+/-86 mm3, p=0.006) and percent atheroma volume (63.2+/-9.6% vs. 55.8+/-8.5%, p=0.011) of the CTO group were also significantly greater than those of non-CTO group. However, the lesion length adjusted plaque composition of the CTO group was not significantly different compared with that of the non-CTO group. CONCLUSION: CTO lesions had a longer lesion length and greater plaque burden than the non-CTO lesion in patients with SA. However, lesion length adjusted plaque composition showed similar between the two groups. These results support that plaque characteristics of CTO lesions are similar to non-CTO lesions in patients with SA.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Humans ; Male ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Cogan's syndrome is a rare systemic inflammatory disease and can be diagnosed on the basis of typical inner ear and ocular involvement with the presence of large vessel vasculitis. We report a case of Cogan's syndrome with stable angina resulting from coronary ostial stenosis caused by aortitis.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Stable ; Aortitis ; Cogan Syndrome ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Ear, Inner ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Vasculitis

Variant angina pectoris (VAP) is a special type of unstable angina with coronary artery spasm as the main pathogenesis, characterized by resting chest pain, and transient ST segment dynamic changes. The development of acute myocardial infarction is not uncommon. We report a case of a 49-year-old female patient diagnosed with VAP at 2 years before who suddenly suffered severe chest pain. Troponin-I was elevated. Immediate coronary angiography showed near-total occlusion in the proximal left anterior descending artery, which was not fully dilated despite use of intracoronary nitroglycerin. Intravascular ultrasound showed focal significant stenosis with a large amount of plaque at the site of spasm and the lesion was successfully treated with drug-eluting stent placement. Intravascular imaging may be instrumental in high-risk patients with VAP who suffer recurrent chest pain despite intensive anti-spasm medications.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Angina, Unstable ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis* ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Nitroglycerin ; Spasm* ; Troponin I ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography