Influence of carvedilol on the benefits of physical training in patients with moderate chronic heart failure.

AIMS: To evaluate prospectively the impact of carvedilol on a short-term physical training program in stable patients with moderate chronic heart failure (CHF), and to analyze parameters predictive of improvement after training. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with CHF were referred for cardiac rehabilitation. Etiology was ischemic in 26 patients, dilated in 12 patients and left ventricular ejection fraction was <35%. Patients were classified into three groups: group 1 (n=14)=ACE inhibitors, diuretics and digitalis; group 2 (n=11)=idem group 1+cardioselective beta-blocker; group 3 (n=13)=idem group 1+carvedilol. Exercise tests with VO2 measurement were performed before and after a 4-week exercise training program. Patients with carvedilol experienced a 16.6% increase in peak VO2 which was similar to the 13.9% increase in the group with cardioselective beta-blocker and to the 18.5% in the group without beta-blocker. Moreover non-ischemic etiology of CHF was the only parameter predictive of improvement after training (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Addition of carvedilol did not alter benefits of a short-term physical training program in patients with moderate CHF. No baseline characteristic except for etiology of CHF was predictive of a response to training.

[Myocardial infarction related to the practice of sports. clinical and coronary angiography apropos of 35 cases]. / Infarctus du myocarde liés á la pratique sportive. Etude clinique et coronarographique á propos de 35 cas.

The clinical and coronary angiographic features of 35 patients who survived the acute phase of a myocardial infarction that occurred while they were practising sports were studied. 97 p. 100 of the patients were male. Mean age was 42.8 years (range 26-71 years), 60 p. 100 being over 40. All but 2 patients had risk factors, the most important of which were tobacco smoking (constant among young subjects) and high blood cholesterol level. In 1/3 of the cases the infarction was preceded by symptoms. 69 p. 100 of the patients were correctly trained. IN 46 p. 100 of the patients the signs of infarction appeared at the end of the physical exertion. Thirteen sports were concerned, notably football (9), tennis (7), cycling (5) and running (5). Contributing factors associated with the way physical exercise was performed with the environment or with the subject's general condition were often present. During a mean follow-up period of 25.3 months, 2 patients were lost sight of and 2 died, one of them of cardiac disease; 71 p. 100 remained asymptomatic. All patients underwent coronary angiography which showed coronary thrombosis in 60 p. 100 of the cases (100 p. 100 when angiography was performed at a very early stage and 33 p. 100 when it was performed more than 15 days after the infarction). One single vessel was involved in 40 p. 100 of the cases and several vessels in 34 p. 100. Angiography yielded normal results in 26 p. 100 of the patients, all of them aged less than 45 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Cooperative survey of the results of coronary surgery during cardiac rehabilitation]. / Enquête coopérative sur les suites de la chirurgie coronaire au cours de la réadaptation cardiaque.

The aim of this study was to assess the type and frequency of cardiac and extracardiac complications of coronary artery surgery in patients referred for cardiac rehabilitation (for which it is one of the principal indications): this was a prospective study carried out simultaneously in 30 cardiac rehabilitation units during December 1992 and including 533 patients (81 women, 452 men) with a mean age of 62.1 years. The total number of coronary grafts was 1,361 (on average 2.5 per patient); the internal mammary artery was used in 87% of cases; revascularisation was complete in 66.4% of patients. One or more complications were observed in 79% of patients during the hospital period (68.9%) and/or during the rehabilitation phase (44.7%), independently of age, sex, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, or the interval to cardiac rehabilitation. The main extracardiac complications were respiratory (31.5%), disturbances of cerebral function (15.6%) and renal failure (10.3%). Cardiac complications comprised arrhythmias, essentially supraventricular (21.3%), infarction and residual postoperative ischaemia (8.4%), large pericardial effusion (7.5%), cardiac failure (4.5%), and wound infection (4.3% including 2.8% mediastinitis). Anaemia, a secondary effect of cardiopulmonary bypass, was observed in 25% of patients. This prospective study, though affected by a bias of selection and not fully representative of the surgical outcome, shows the need for a personalised management of these patients, the early indication of cardiovascular rehabilitation contributing to the optimisation of coronary artery surgery at less cost and with improved safety.

[Return to work after cardiovascular rehabilitation in 128 coronary patients followed for 7 years. Results and medico-economic analysis]. / Réinsertion professionnelle après réadaptation cardiovasculaire chez 128 patients coronariens suivis pendant 7 ans. Résultats et réflexion médico-économique.

This was a prospective study of the modalities of return to work in a male population of 128 patients (mean age 48.9 years)) admitted for cardiovascular rehabilitation after acute infarction or coronary bypass surgery and followed up for 7 years. At one year, 78.9% of the population had returned to work (average delay 126 +/- 97 days), usually to the same job (66.3%) after adaptation (25.8%) or professional reconversion (7.9%). After 3 and 7 years follow-up, the active population was 62.5% and 40.7% respectively and the main reason for definite stopping work was retirement (63%). Temporary stoppages were short (4.5 days and 8.2 days per patient per year at 3 and 7 years respectively), illustrating the good quality of professional rehabilitation. The factors influencing return to work during the first age were young age (47.5 versus 52.7 years) and negative exercise stress tests (83% versus 59% in cases of positive tests, p < 0.05). This study and a review of the literature were used to undertake a medico-economic analysis which showed decreased economic consequences in patients referred for rehabilitation: over 5 years in a group of 100 patients, an economy of 5,818 KF after myocardial infarction or 2,677 KF after coronary bypass surgery was demonstrated. The reasons for these economies were the reduced direct (hospital admissions) and indirect costs (social security reimbursement for off-work and invalidity pensions). Those favourable results underline the value of a consultation of professional aptitude in all programmes of cardiovascular rehabilitation.

[Paroxysmal mitral insufficiency caused by ischemic dysfunction of the papillary muscles. Hemodynamic and angiographic study of 18 cases. Pathogenic hypotheses]. / Insuffisance mitrale paroxystique par dysfonctionnement ischémique de piliers. Etude hémodynamique et angiographique de 18 cas. Hypothèses pathogéniques.

18 of 39 cases of ischaemic papillary muscle dysfunction reported elsewhere underwent cardiac catheterisation and angiography. Fifteen patients had previous myocardial infarction. The average age of the patients was less than in the overall series (69 vs 73 years) but the incidence of infarction and the degree of cardiac disease were greater. The absence of catheter data in the other patients is explained by their older age (76.4 years) and the longer period of recruitment. Their results and outcome of medical or surgical treatment are reported. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is reconsidered in the perspective of paroxysmal forms. A protocol for investigation is suggested to guide the therapeutic options. Right heart catheterisation at rest (n = 16), on exercise (n = 12), under vasodilator therapy (n = 6) and during angiography (n = 2) does not show a specific profile. These investigations only provide haemodynamic data related to therapy but they are essential for the interpretation of ventriculography. Ventriculography (n = 8) demonstrated 4 cases of mitral regurgitation (2 major and 2 minor), a reduced EF (0.47 +/- 0.17), asynergy of 36.1 p. 100 of segments analysed, predominantly in the inferior and lateral zones. Coronary angiography showed triple vessel disease in 6 cases, double vessel disease in 1 case and 1 stenosis of the left main coronary artery. Stenosis was commonest on the left circumflex (87.5 p. 100) and right coronary arteries (87.5 p. 100) but also frequently involved the left anterior descending artery (75 p. 100). Of the 12 patients treated medically, 8 died (66.6 p. 100) and the survivors remain symptomatic (33.3 p. 100), half with and half without attacks. After surgery (n = 8) comprising coronary bypass surgery (n = 6) or mitral valve replacement (n = 2), patients were asymptomatic. 1 patient died of cancer. These paroxysmal forms of mitral regurgitation may be explained by the association of aggravating, reversible ischaemic or haemodynamic factors to organic mitral lesions. Mitral valve replacement is justified when dysfunction becomes permanent and coronary bypass surgery is advocated whenever possible. The indications for surgery can only be taken into account after complete haemodynamic and angiographic investigation. A protocol for the interpretation of these investigations is suggested.

[Return to work of professional drivers after cardiac rehabilitation]. / Reprise du travail après réadaptation cardiaque chez les chauffeurs professionnels.

This study analysed the possibilities of returning to work of professional drivers after a cardiac event and rehabilitation. The population comprised 94 consecutive patients, all men, average age 48.8 years (range 30 to 63 years) referred after coronary bypass surgery (N = 39), myocardial infarction (N = 38), angina (N = 4) or valve replacement surgery (N = 13). Advice on professional reinsertion was given after the rehabilitation program, authorization to drive being given in the absence of cardiac symptoms, residual myocardial ischaemia, severe left ventricular dysfunction and serious ventricular arrhythmias. After 35 months, 4 patients were lost to follow-up; of the 90 remaining patients, the frequency of return to work (maximal at the 9th month) was 65.6% with 84.7% obtaining a renewal of their driving licence. In this series, 81% of patients were asymptomatic, 2 died, 16.7% had further cardiovascular complications. The morbidity and mortality were significantly greater in the group who had to stop driving (N = 40) (32.5% vs 8%, p < 0.001). Non complications occurred during work in those who resumed driving. This study confirms the safety of allowing low risk professional drivers, identified during cardiac rehabilitation by simple, reliable clinical and paraclinical criteria, to return to work.

[Auriculo-ventricular block in the Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Apropos of a case]. / Bloc auriculo-ventriculaire au cours d'un syndrome de Kearns et Sayre. A propos d'une observation.

A 21 year old patient was operated for bilateral ptosis and external ophthalmoplegia at 13 years of age. At this time there were no signs of retinitis pigmentosa or atrioventricular block, features of the Kearns and Sayre Syndrome (1958) which were detected five years later. His bundle recording showed an intrahisian block (1 degree proximal and a complete distal block) with a trifascicular block, the latter persisting alone during a brief return to sinus rhythm. This is one of the rare cases of the Kearns and Sayre Syndrome with documented His bundle recordings and the only reported case with intrahisian block. The patient also suffered from bilateral neural deafness. The patient's condition remains stable after implantation of an isotopic cardiac pacemaker and he now leads a normal life. A review of 52 previously published cases shows that this rare condition appears to be caused by a mitochondrial abnormality, which, for an unknown reason, affects only the neuromuscular and cardiac conduction systems. The prognosis is poor when swallowing and respiration are affected, but this does not occur in all cases. As cardiac conduction abnormalities are the other life-threatening complication, cardiac pacing has greatly improved the prognosis of these patients.

[Prognosis and risk evaluation of postoperative coronary patients (PERISCOP). Methodology and study population characteristics]. / Pronostic et évaluation du risque chez le coronarien opéré (PERISCOP). Méthodologie et caractéristiques de la population incluse.

The aim of the PERISCOP study was to evaluate the predictive value of cardiological investigations performed after recent coronary bypass surgery with regards to cardiac event and mortality at one year. The treatment of lipid abnormalities was also analysed. This first article describes the methodology and patient characteristics at inclusion. This prospective national multicenter trial included 2065 patients (86% men) with an average age of 63.1 +/- 9.9 years. The number of diseased vessels was 2.6 +/- 0.6. Preoperative left ventricular function was normal (ejection fraction 60 +/- 13%). Revascularisation was complete in 73% of cases (22% of arterial grafts). The cardiological investigations were performed at Day 20 +/- 10 after surgery. The duration of exercise on stress testing was 429 +/- 170 seconds. It was positive or doubtful in 9% of cases. Ventricular arrhythmias were observed in 6.5% of cases. The blood pressure response was abnormal in 6% of cases. Holter monitoring showed a median number of ventricular extrasystoles over 24 hours of 44. Three per cent of patients had one episode of ventricular tachycardia and 7% had ischaemic episodes. The echocardiographic index of segmental contractility was on average 1.75 (ejection fraction: 52.6%). The lipid analysis performed at one month, under lipid therapy in 34% of cases, showed a total cholesterol level at 1.91 +/- 0.10 g/l, an LDL-cholesterol of 1.27 +/- 0.08 g/l. The therapeutic target (LDL-cholesterol < 1 g/l) was attained in 46% of cases with treatment and in 18% of cases without treatment.

[Evaluation of the readaptation of patients with triple coronary vessel disease unfit for by-pass surgery]. / Evaluation de la réadaptation chez le coronarien tritronculaire non pontable.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation in 46 consecutive patients with triple vessel coronary disease, and unfit for by-pass surgery: there were 45 men and 1 woman (mean age = 58 years), admitted during the 3rd week of a myocardial infarction (N = 31) or following unstable angina (N = 15). The stroke volume (SV) is normal in 50 p. cent of the patients, but 15 p. cent presented as SV less than 0.30. 3 patients were unable to start their rehabilitation because of unstable angina (N = 2), or severe pulmonary edema (N = 1). Following 4 weeks of rehabilitation, comparison of the stress tests pre- and post-rehabilitation, reveals improved functional capacities (maximum level reached 103.6 +/- 27 vs 126.4 +/- 31; p less than 0.001, and an improvement of the ischemic threshold (82 +/- 32 vs 92 +/- 31; p less than 0.05). During the long-term follow-up (32.5 months), 4 patients died from cardiac complications (8.7%) and one from extra-cardiac reasons. Among the 41 alive patients, 58.6 p. cent were asymptomatic, 39 p. cent presented cardiac complications, one had a GI malignancy. The rate of return to work among the active population is 68.5 p. cent within a mean time of 1.7 months after rehabilitation. Overall, this study demonstrates the possibility of cardiac rehabilitation under medical supervision in patients with severe triple vessel coronary disease. The improvement of the functional abilities under stress conditions is obvious, enabling the patient to regain confidence in him/herself and improve his/her comfort.

[False positive of the exercise test and right auricular hypertrophy]. / Faux positif de l'épreuve d'effort et hypertrophie auriculaire droite.

Seldom mentioned as a possible etiology of false positive stress tests (ST), the right atrial hypertrophy (RAH) may cause electrocardiographic aspects evocative of myocardial ischemia in the lower areas. The retrospective study concerns STs in 4 patients, staying in a cardiac rehabilitation center, following (D14) surgery for isolated type II IAC, Fallot's trilogy (n = 1), or dual valvular disease (tricuspid insufficiency and mitral stenosis, n = 1), and presenting all on basal ECG a RAH (group I). These STs are compared to that of a reference group operated (D14) from a IAC type II (isolated n = 3, associated to RVPA n = 1), but without signs of RAH on the rest ECG (group II). All other possible causes of electrically positive STs were eliminated from this study. In patients with RAH, the stress test is positive in the lower area (ST = -1.27 +/- 0.25 mm). In four other patients without HAD, the STest is negative in 3 cases and uncertain in one. These results do not seem to be linked to pre-operative hemodynamic data, nor to sonocardiographic data. Atrial repolarization alone seems to be the cause of these ECG alterations during stress, as demonstrated, in one patient, by sudden variations of the ST segment during a change from an atrial rhythm (AR) (with retrograde atrial depolarization) to a sinus rhythm (SR). These observations suggest the role of atrial repolarization in the origin of false positive stress tests in patients with RAH.

[Treatment of chronic refractory cardiac insufficiency with an inhibitor of converting enzyme. Long-term results]. / Traitement de l'insuffisance cardiaque chronique réfractaire par un inhibiteur de l'enzyme de conversion. Résultats à long terme.

44 patients with refractory heart failure (RHF) were treated with a conversion enzyme inhibitor, captopril. Prior to treatment, 26 patients had stage IV RHF and 18 patients had stage III RHF (NYHA). The course of the trial was marked by early deaths (6 months) in 9 cases (20.4%), early treatment failure in 8 cases (18.2%), intolerance in 3 cases (6.8%) and 3 patients (6.8%) were lost to follow-up. 21 patients (48%) were improved by the treatment and were followed for a mean of 16 months +/- 8.6. The mean dosage of captopril was 157 mg per day in 3 oral doses (range: 75 to 300 mg per day). The pulmonary capillary pressure dropped, on average, from 30 +/- 10 mm Hg to 21 +/- 7 mm Hg (p less than 0.01) by the 8th day and remained stable thereafter. The cardiac index increased by 40%. The heart rate decreased by a mean of 10.4%, by the time of the first examination. The mean blood pressure was not significantly modified. Side effects which resolved after changing the dosage were seen in one third of cases: renal failure (4 cases), hypotension (2 cases), hyperkalaemia (1 case). In the long term, 6 patients (2.6%) died after a mean delay of 15.6 +/- 5.3 months.

[Therapeutic value of a combination of trimetazidine with a calcium inhibitor in the treatment of chronic coronary insufficiency]. / Intérêt thérapeutique de l'association de la trimétazidine avec un inhibiteur calcique dans le traitement de l'insuffisance coronarienne chronique.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study sought to examine the short-term benefit of adding 60 mg of trimetazidine to the daily therapeutic regimen of 29 male patients with coronary insufficiency who had persistent ST depression on exercise tolerance test (greater than or equal to 1 mm), despite treatment with nifedipine 40 mg per day. As compared with the placebo group, after only 14 days, the patients treated with trimetazidine showed statistically significant increases in the maximum workload level attained before ST depression occurred (31% versus - 6%; P = 0.009), the total work performed (31% versus 2%; P = 0.024) and a significant decrease in the systolic tension time (double product)/workload ratio (-5% versus +11%; P = 0.005). Throughout the study the clinical acceptability was excellent, with no side effects attributable to trimetazidine being recorded. This study shows that the addition of trimetazidine to a calcium antagonist brings a valuable improvement in therapeutic results.

Heart rate variability to assess ventilatory thresholds: reliable in cardiac disease?

BACKGROUND: The first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds are landmarks to tailor exercise rehabilitation in coronary artery disease (CAD) or chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods allowing VT1 and VT2 determination based on heart rate variability (HRV) have been proposed but not yet evaluated in these patients. DESIGN: To determine the heart rate (HR) associated with VT1 and VT2 by three methods of HRV analyses. METHODS: Fourteen CHF and 24 CAD patients performed an exercise test on a cycle ergometer (10 -W every minute until exhaustion). VT1 and VT2 were determined with the 'respiratory equivalent' method. HR at VT1 was determined with the standard deviation (SD) of R⊟R intervals (VT(SD)) and of the instantaneous beat-to-beat variability of the Poincaré plot method (VT(Poincaré)). HR at VT1 and VT2 was determined through a time-varying HRV analysis method (VT(TV1) and VT(TV2), respectively). RESULTS: HR at VT(SD) was significantly higher than HR at VT1. No significant differences were observed between HR at VT(Poincaré), VT(TV1), and at VT1, nor between HR at VT(TV2) and VT2. HR at VT(SD), VT(Poincaré), and VT1 were significantly correlated, but with a low r (2) value and a large mean HR difference. With the time-varying method, the mean HR difference was lower than 5% and the correlation coefficients were higher (especially for VT(TV2)). CONCLUSIONS: SD and Poincaré plot methods lead to substantial inaccuracy in HR estimates. The time-varying HRV analysis led to strong correlation coefficients and low limits of agreement. Therefore, this method may be a promising, low-cost tool for non-invasive assessment of the ventilatory thresholds in cardiac disease.

Consensus statement on the care of the hyperglycaemic/diabetic patient during and in the immediate follow-up of acute coronary syndrome.

The Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease study group of the Société francophone du diabète (SFD, French Society of Diabetes) in collaboration with the Société française de cardiologie (SFC, French Society of Cardiology) have devised a consensus statement on the care of the hyperglycaemic/diabetic patient during and in the immediate follow-up of acute coronary syndrome (ACS); in particular, it includes the different phases of ACS [the intensive care unit (ICU) period, the post-ICU period and the short-term follow-up period after discharge, including cardiac rehabilitation] and also embraces all of the various diagnostic and therapeutic issues with a view to optimalizing the collaboration between cardiologists and diabetologists. As regards diagnosis, subjects with HbA(1c) greater or equal to 6.5% on admission may be considered diabetic while, in those with no known diabetes and HbA(1c) less than 6.5%, it is recommended that an OGTT be performed 7 to 28days after ACS. During hospitalization in the ICU, continuous insulin treatment should be initiated in all patients when admission blood glucose levels are greater or equal to 180mg/dL (10.0mmol/L) and, in those with previously known diabetes, when preprandial glucose levels are greater or equal to 140mg/dL (7.77mmol/L) during follow-up. The recommended blood glucose target is 140-180mg/dL (7.7-10mmol/L) for most patients. Following the ICU period, insulin treatment is not mandatory for every patient, and other antidiabetic treatments may be considered, with the choice of optimal treatment depending on the metabolic profile of the patient. Patients should be referred to a diabetologist before discharge from hospital in cases of unknown diabetes diagnosed during ACS hospitalization, of HbA(1c) greater or equal to 8% at the time of admission, or newly introduced insulin therapy or severe/repeated hypoglycaemia. Referral to a diabetologist after hospital discharge is recommended if diabetes is diagnosed by the OGTT, or during cardiac rehabilitation in cases of uncontrolled diabetes (HbA(1c)≥8%) or severe/repeated hypoglycaemia.

Consensus statement on the care of the hyperglycaemic/diabetic patient during and in the immediate follow-up of acute coronary syndrome.

The Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease study group of the Société francophone du diabète (SFD, French Society of Diabetes) in collaboration with the Société française de cardiologie (SFC, French Society of Cardiology) have devised a consensus statement on the care of the hyperglycaemic/diabetic patient during and in the immediate follow-up of acute coronary syndrome (ACS); in particular, it includes the different phases of ACS [the intensive care unit (ICU) period, the post-ICU period and the short-term follow-up period after discharge, including cardiac rehabilitation] and also embraces all of the various diagnostic and therapeutic issues with a view to optimizing the collaboration between cardiologists and diabetologists. As regards diagnosis, subjects with HbA(1c) greater or equal to 6.5% on admission may be considered diabetic while, in those with no known diabetes and HbA(1c) less than 6.5%, it is recommended that an OGTT be performed 7 to 28 days after ACS. During hospitalization in the ICU, continuous insulin treatment should be initiated in all patients when admission blood glucose levels are greater or equal to 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) and, in those with previously known diabetes, when preprandial glucose levels are greater or equal to 140 mg/dL (7.77 mmol/L) during follow-up. The recommended blood glucose target is 140-180 mg/dL (7.7-10 mmol/L) for most patients. Following the ICU period, insulin treatment is not mandatory for every patient, and other antidiabetic treatments may be considered, with the choice of optimal treatment depending on the metabolic profile of the patient. Patients should be referred to a diabetologist before discharge from hospital in cases of unknown diabetes diagnosed during ACS hospitalization, of HbA(1c) greater or equal to 8% at the time of admission, or newly introduced insulin therapy or severe/repeated hypoglycaemia. Referral to a diabetologist after hospital discharge is recommended if diabetes is diagnosed by the OGTT, or during cardiac rehabilitation in cases of uncontrolled diabetes (HbA(1c) ≥ 8%) or severe/repeated hypoglycaemia.

Exercise rehabilitation restores physiological cardiovascular responses to short-term head-out water immersion in patients with chronic heart failure.

PURPOSE: Rehabilitation programs increasingly involve immersed exercising, including inpatients suffering from severe cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD) or chronic heart failure (CHF). The hemodynamic responses to short-term head-out water immersion are not well defined in these diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating (1) the cardiac and peripheral hemodynamic responses to short-term head-out water immersion in patients with CHF (n = 12) and CAD (n = 12) and (2) the effect of a rehabilitation program on these responses. METHODS: Wrist arterial tonometry was performed in the upright posture before and during immersion (1.30-m depth) once before and once after a 3-week rehabilitation program including gymnic water exercises. RESULTS: In patients with CAD, water immersion triggered a significant increase in stroke volume, cardiac output, and pulse pressure and a significant decrease in pulse rate, diastolic blood pressure, and systemic vascular resistances, both before and after the rehabilitation program. In patients with CHF, no significant immersion-linked changes in cardiovascular variables were observed before rehabilitation. However, after completion of the rehabilitation program, it was found that water immersion caused significant increases in stroke volume, cardiac output, and pulse pressure. CONCLUSION: In patients with CHF, this 3-week rehabilitation program restored the usual central responses to head-out water immersion (increase in stroke volume and cardiac output). In both patients with CHF and CAD, acute water immersion did not change arterial compliance.

Effects of a comprehensive rehabilitation programme in patients with three-vessel coronary disease.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of rehabilitation in 46 consecutive three-vessel coronary disease patients who were considered to have no possibility of revascularization; there were 45 males and one female (mean age 58) sent in the third week after acute myocardial infarction (N = 31) or after unstable angina (N = 15). Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was normal in 50% of the patients, but 15% had an EF less than or equal to 0.30. Three patients could not begin their rehabilitation because of unstable angina (N = 2) or severe pulmonary oedema (N = 1). After a 4-week rehabilitation programme, the comparison of stress tests revealed an increase in functional capacities (maximal work-load = 103.6 +/- 27 W before rehabilitation, 126.4 +/- 31 W after rehabilitation, P less than 0.001), and an improvement of the ischaemic threshold [82 +/- 32 W before rehabilitation, 91 +/- 31 W after rehabilitation, P less than 0.05]. During long-term follow up [20.8 months], four patients died of cardiac events [8.7%]; all of them had an EF less than 0.45. Among the 42 living patients 61.9% were asymptomatic, 28.7% had exertional angina, and 9.4% had cardiac complications, and coronary surgery was performed in two cases with good results. The level of return to work was 85% with the mean delay of 1.7 months after rehabilitation. So, rehabilitation in three-vessel coronary disease patients is safe under medical control; improvements in exertional capacities are obvious and give the patients a better self confidence as assessed by the good score of return to work after rehabilitation.