[Isolated coronary stenosis: clinical picture, contractile function of the left ventricle and central hemodynamics]

Clinical manifestations of coronary disease, medical history, left-ventricular segmental contractility and central hemodynamics were examined in 54 patients, aged 32 to 45, with an isolated 75-99% stenosis of a major coronary artery. The most common isolated stenosis in the anterior interventricular branch (AIVB) of the left coronary artery is associated with more severe clinical coronary symptoms. Total damage to the coronary channel is twice as great where AIVB is affected as it is with lesions of the right (RCA) or the circumflex (CA) coronary artery. AIVB stenosis results in more serious disorders of left-ventricular segmental contractility and central hemodynamics, with the end diastolic index showing the most dramatic rise. Isolated AIVB stenosis is associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction, as compared to the RCA or CA stenosis.