[Characteristics of coronary angioplasty in young patients]

To assess the characteristics and efficacy of coronary angioplasty in young people (less than 40 years old) (YCA) we have compared the clinical and anatomic characteristics, and the results of 27 YCA (35 lesions), with those of 732 procedures (854 lesions) performed in patients older than 40 years of age (NYCA). Clinical indication for dilatation were similar in both groups, but YCA were performed more frequently during an acute myocardial infarction (18.5 vs 4.5%, p less than 0.005). In addition, lesions in NYCA were frequently located in the left anterior descending coronary artery (51% vs 31%, p less than 0.05) were more eccentric (61% vs 37%, p less than 0.025) and tended to be more irregular (37% vs 26%, NS), and calcified (6.5% vs 0%, NS) than lesions in YCA, which more frequently presented a total occlusion (23% vs 8%, p less than 0.005) and tended to be longer (7.7 +/- 4.5 vs 6.8 +/- 4.7 mm, NS). Furthermore, YCA had a more complete coronary revascularization than NYCA (84% vs 66%, p less than 0.05). Angioplasty success per lesion (88.6% vs 89.5%), or procedure (77.8% vs 87%), was similar in both groups. The number of acute reocclusions was higher in YCA (8.6 vs 2%, p less than 0.05), but when patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded from the analysis this difference was not longer present. Angiographic control was available in 20 YCA lesions (9 [45%] with restenosis) and in 567 NYCA lesions (178 [31%] with restenosis, NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)