Carbon Monoxide and Cardiovascular Disease

Lethal exposure to carbon monoxide occurs all too frequently in fires, industrial accidents, and suicides. During the past two decades, however, evidence has been mounting that exposure to small amounts of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere has physiologic and clinical consequences, particularly for the cardiovascular system.The paper by Allred et al.1 in this issue of the Journal demonstrates some limitation of exercise capacity in patients with known coronary artery disease who were exposed to carbon monoxide, as reflected by shortening of the length of time to anginal pain and ST-segment depression. This well-planned multicenter study confirms and extends previously . . .