Silent ischaemia in the 1990s

Silent myocardial ischaemia (significant ST depression without chest pain) is a common occurrence in most forms of coronary heart disease and can be associated with permanent changes in myocardial structure. The haemodynamic and ECG manifestations of silent episodes are similar to those observed in painful ischaemia. Exercise testing is the most appropriate method for assessing the severity of coronary artery disease; increased sensitivity can be obtained by combining it with radionuclide scintigraphy or ventriculography. Ambulatory ECG monitoring may fail to detect ischaemic changes revealed by exercise provocation. The treatment approach should depend on the degree of ischaemia. Numerous clinical investigations in stable and unstable angina and in patients with a previous myocardial infarction indicate that the prognosis of patients with myocardial ischaemia does not depend on whether the ischaemia is silent or symptomatic. Silent and symptomatic episodes alone represent the same degree of coronary disease. Moreover, it appears that ischaemic episodes are a more powerful adverse prognostic influence than left ventricular function or the extent of coronary artery disease. All anti-ischaemic agents, such as beta-blockers, calcium antagonists and nitrates, and interventions such as coronary balloon angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery, are very effective treatments for myocardial ischaemia. All efforts should be made to prevent ischaemic episodes, whether silent or symptomatic, since the severity of disease rather than the presence or absence of symptoms more accurately reflects the need for intervention.