Ischemic heart disease showing unusual angiographic findings

Atherosclerotic lesions usually occur in the proximal and middle portion of the coronary arteries. Multiple obstructive lesions appearing only in the peripheral branches without lesions in the proximal or distal portion have not been reported. We encountered a patient with ischemic heart disease showing multiple obstruction in the peripheral branches of the right and left coronary arteries without significant stenotic lesions in the proximal or middle portion. This 49-year-old male was admitted to Yamada Red Cross Hospital due to angina pectoris. Coronary risk factors for him included hypertension, abnormal glucose tolerance, smoking habit, and obesity. Laboratory studies showed a complete blood count and normal blood chemistries, as well as thromboplastin and prothrombin times. Coronary angiography showed multiple obstruction or marked stenosis in the distal portion and peripheral branches; there was no stenosis in the proximal and middle portions. Left ventriculography showed severe hypokinesis in the diaphragmatic segment. Biopsy of the left ventricular endocardium showed interstitial fibrosis but showed no abnormalities in the myocardial fibers or cell infiltration to perivascular areas and vascular walls. Coronary angiography after two months showed multiple lesions, as previously observed. Although ischemic heart disease is caused by various types of vasculitis, embolism, coronary spasm, and fibromuscular dysplasia, in this patient, there were no findings suggestive of causes other than atherosclerosis. This case is interesting in terms of rare angiographic findings and its cause.