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[Indications of coronary cineangiography in coronary heart disease]

Maria Cecilia Solimene1, José Antonio Franchini Ramires

  • 1Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, S. Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|July 30, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Coronary arteriography is increasingly used for coronary heart disease, especially for acute coronary syndromes. Indications are clarified, guiding its use in high-risk patients while non-invasive tests suit low-risk individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Advances in myocardial revascularization and interventions favor invasive strategies for coronary heart disease.
  • Coronary arteriography is now more frequently indicated due to technological improvements.
  • Acute coronary syndromes, including non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina, share unified management guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and clarify the indications for coronary arteriography in managing coronary heart disease.
  • To discuss the role of coronary arteriography in the diagnosis and prognosis of coronary heart disease.
  • To differentiate appropriate use cases from situations where non-invasive testing is preferred.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current medical literature and clinical guidelines.
  • Analysis of diagnostic and prognostic indications for coronary arteriography.
  • Comparison of invasive versus non-invasive strategies for coronary heart disease risk stratification.

Main Results:

  • Coronary arteriography is indicated in incapacitating angina, high-risk unstable coronary syndromes, and acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction requiring intervention.
  • Low-risk patients with atypical chest pain or stable angina may benefit from non-invasive testing, potentially avoiding arteriography.
  • Current clinical practice shows less defined indications, with arteriography sometimes used as a first-line test for undifferentiated chest pain.

Conclusions:

  • The indications for coronary arteriography in coronary heart disease require precise definition to optimize patient management.
  • Non-invasive testing is appropriate for low-risk patients, reserving arteriography for specific high-risk scenarios.
  • Appropriate use of coronary arteriography improves diagnostic accuracy and prognostic assessment in cardiovascular disease.

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