Chest, Vol 75, 667-670, Copyright © 1979 by American College of Chest Physicians

ARTICLES

Historic and angiographic features of young adults surviving myocardial infarction

SE Warren, SI Thompson and WV Vieweg

Sixty-eight survivors of myocardial infarction occurring before the age of 36 years were studied using selective coronary cinearteriograms, regardless of symptoms. Three groups of patients were delineated; 56 patients (82 percent) had obstructive coronary arterial disease, nine (13 percent) had normal coronary arteries, and three (4 percent) had congenital coronary arterial anomalies. Because the prognosis in these three groups is different, all young patients with myocardial infarction should undergo coronary arteriographic studies after a suitable period of convalescence. Myocardial infarction in the young differs from that in the elderly by virtue of a more heterogeneous underlying coronary anatomy, an overwhelming preponderance of male patients, and a better reported prognosis.