[Coronarographic and ventriculographic aspects of 76 cases of unstable angina (authors transl)].

-- Coronarographic and ventriculographic aspects of 76 patients with unstable angina were analyzed. 8 cases (10%) had normal coronary arteries, 9 (11.8%) had slight stenotic lesions (less than 50%), 59 (77.6%) had serious stenosis. The stenosis concerned only one principal branch in 22 patients (37.2%), 2 branches in 24 (40%), 3 branches in 13 (22%). In 77-79% of cases, ventricular contractility was normal. A collateral circulation was found in 58% of cases, but no link was discovered between the coronaric lesions and the clinical type of angina. The course of the illness was studied during the hospitalization and post-hospitalization period for an average observation time of 14 months (55 cases). The course of illness type depends on the number of affected branches and the myocardial contractility. In 25% of the patients with lesions in 3 branches there was an unfavourable course of illness (either infarction or death), whilst where there were lesions in one or two branches, negative results were 11% and 15% respectively. Patients with normal coronary arteries or slight stenosis had no unfavourable course of illness. In 37% of patients with altered contractility, an unfavourable course of illness was found, as against 27% with normal contractility. The presence of collateral circulation doesn't seem to influence the course the illness takes. A coronarographic examination seems to be an essential elelment in deciding on the prognosis of unstable angina.