Key result
Normal coronary arteries account for ~30% of chest pain catheterizations and carry an excellent prognosis.
Up to 30% of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for chest pain have normal coronary arteries, requiring a broad differential diagnosis for proper management despite an excellent overall prognosis.
Demands broad differential for chest pain despite normal coronaries; leaves open refined diagnostic and management strategies.
Over one million Americans undergo cardiac catheterization each year because of chest pain, with the expectation that coronary artery disease will be found. However, up to 30%--a subgroup that includes patients with both cardiac and noncardiac pathology--will have angiographically normal coronary arteries. While the prognosis of the group as a whole is excellent, successful management requires a clear understanding of the multiple and varied conditions that can cause this syndrome.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Michael E. Assey (1993) conducted a review in Chest pain with angiographically normal coronary arteries. Up to 30% of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for chest pain have angiographically normal coronary arteries, a syndrome with an excellent prognosis but varied underlying causes.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: