Comparison of the cardioprotective effect of prodromal angina pectoris and collateral circulation in patients with a first anterior wall acute myocardial infarction

To compare the cardioprotective effect of prodromal angina pectoris and collateral circulation, 245 patients with first anterior acute myocardial infarction who underwent coronary angioplasty within 12 hours of symptoms were studied. Prodromal angina pectoris and collateral circulation were independently associated with higher predischarge left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and a combination of prodromal angina pectoris and collateral circulation afforded cumulative improvement in LVEF in patients without diabetes mellitus. In patients with diabetes mellitus, collateral circulation, but not prodromal angina pectoris, was associated with higher predischarge LVEF.