Functional Importance of the Human Coronary Collateral Circulation

Abstract

To determine the effect of intercoronary collateral vessels on the clinical features of coronary-artery disease, 61 patients with collateral vessels were compared with 58 patients without arteriographically demonstrable collateral vessels. No significant differences existed between the two groups in level of physical activity, duration of angina, frequency of prior myocardial infarction or prevalence of electrocardiographic, hemodynamic and ventriculographic abnormalities.