Exercise testing in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries: improving test specificity by use of a simple logistic model.

Despite an exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) positive for ischemia by established criteria, many patients referred for coronary angiography to evaluate chest pain are found to have angiographically normal coronary arteries (NCA). Exercise ECG were analyzed from 27 patients with chest pain and angiographically NCA and 28 patients with chest pain and coronary artery disease (CAD) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. We derived the following logistic model for the logit probability of CAD: 3 + SEX x 4 - METs x 0.

Use and limitations of Holter electrocardiography in assessing drug therapy of myocardial ischemia during the peri-PTCA period.

Incidence and pattern of myocardial ischemia during the peri-PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) period and the possible role of continuous intravenous isosorbide dinitrate in its prevention were examined prospectively in 30 patients. Holter electrocardiographic monitoring was performed for 21 +/- 3 h before PTCA and continued during and for 41 +/- 8 h after the procedure. Before PTCA, 19 ischemic episodes were present in 10 (33%) of 30 patients.