Long-term follow-up of patients initially diagnosed with syndrome X

Am J Cardiol. 1993 Mar 15;71(8):669-73. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(93)91008-6.

Abstract

The clinical course of 30 patients (27 women and 3 men) diagnosed with syndrome X (angina pectoris, positive exercise test and normal coronary arteries) was evaluated during 5-year follow up. Patients were divided at the control examination into 2 groups according to the median value of the heart rate/blood pressure product variation from rest to the first stage of a modified Bruce protocol, as follows: group 1 < or = 1,050 (n = 15) and group 2 > 1,050 mm Hg x beats/min (n = 15). All patients were followed at 6-month intervals during a mean follow-up of 60 +/- 8 months. During follow-up, chest pain was unchanged in 20 patients, decreased in severity and frequency in 9 (7 in group 1, and 2 in group 2), and disappeared in 1 in group 2; 3 patients in group 1 had prolonged episodes of anginal chest pain (> 30 minutes) that needed hospitalization. In group 2, 7 patients developed systemic hypertension, 4 had a progression of exercise-induced left bundle branch block to constant left bundle branch block, and 4 continued to develop rate-dependent block during exercise, but at a reduced heart rate. In the latter 8 patients, left ventricular ejection fraction at rest during follow-up decreased significantly from 61 +/- 6% to 51 +/- 8% (p < 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angina Pectoris / diagnostic imaging
  • Angina Pectoris / physiopathology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Coronary Circulation
  • Electrocardiography
  • Exercise Test*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Syndrome