Incidence and age distribution of patients with myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteriograms

Over a 41 month period selective coronary arteriography was performed on all patients age 35 and under seen at our hospital with a documented myocardial infarction. In these 25 patients, 4 (16%) demonstrated no arteriographic evidence of coronary artery disease. One‐hundred and fifty‐two patients over age 35 with a documented myocardial infarction underwent selective coronary arteriography during the same period. In each of the 152 cases, obstructive coronary artery disease was demonstrated. The generally favorable prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteriograms has been previously documented. On the basis of our experience and a review of the literature, it is recommended that all patients age 35 and under sustaining a myocardial infarction should undergo selective coronary arteriography, in order to establish prognosis.