[Ergometric findings depending on the severity and localization of coronary artery disease (author's transl)]. / Ergometrische Befunde bei Koronarkranken in Abhängigkeit von Ausdehnung und Lokalisation des Gefässbefalls

Ergometric and coronary angiographic findings were compared in 145 patients with proximal lesions of at least 50% of major coronary arteries. 75% of the patients had had a previous myocardial infarction. The following ergometric parameters occur most frequently in 3-vessel disease. (1) coronary insufficiency persisting after myocardial infarction, (2) ST-segment depression of at least 0.2 mV, (3) maximum exercise tolerance limited to less than 75 Watts. However, these parameters cannot predict 3-vessel disease with absolute certainty, nor can they exclude a single vessel disease. 3-vessel disease is not likely, if there is a maximum heart rate of 150 beats per minute or more. There were only slight differences between patients with 1-vessel disease and patients with 2-vessel disease. Patients who were limited at the 50 Watts level were found to have significant LAD disease, either alone or in combination with other vessels, with the exception of one patient.