Profile of coronary risk factors in patients with manifest ischaemia and normal coronary arteries.

Risk factor profile of 142 patients with normal epicardial coronary arteries (86 males, 56 females, mean age 47 +/- 11 years) out of 1,508 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography was analysed. The mode of presentation in these patients was old or recent myocardial infarction (16.1%), unstable angina (12.0%), angina on effort (43.7%), atypical chest pain (8.5%), and anginal equivalent (19.7%). One or more stress test was positive in the majority (88%) of patients. Though the majority (39.5%) of patients had one risk factor, multiple (two or more) risk factors were not uncommon. Risk factor profile in patients with normal coronaries included hypertension (45.7%), dyslipidemia (33.8%), obesity (19.7%), positive family history of coronary artery disease (18.3%), cigarette smoking (16.1%), and minor risk factors (hyperuricemia, sedentary life style, Type A personality, oral contraceptive intake -15.4%). The mechanism of myocardial ischemia in patients with normal coronary arteries is not fully understood. We conclude that approximately one tenth of patients with clinically manifest coronary artery disease and one or more conventional risk factors do not have atherosclerotic changes in their epicardial coronary arteries as seen on coronary angiography.