Isolated coronary ostial stenosis.

We have examined 5 patients with typical angina pectoris and found them to have left coronary ostial stenosis without evidence of any other coronary arterial disease and without evidence of aortic disease (Takayasu aortitis, syphilitic aortitis, or familial hypercholesterolaemia). All five patients were female aged between 38 and 53 years, a striking difference from the normal 7:1 male:female ratio for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. It may be that these patients represent a rare but distinct syndrome. The angiographic diagnosis can be difficult but a pressure drop as the catheter tip engages the ostium and lack of spill-over of contrast into the sinus of Valsalva are findings that should lead the angiographer to suspect ostial stenosis.