[Myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries].

We retrospectively studied 36 cases of myocardial Infarction (MI) with normal coronary arteries, which had been obtained from a total of 538 patients with MI admitted to our Hospital in the last 3 years. All patients had coronary angiogram and left ventriculogram. The following data was reviewed: age, sex, coronary risk factors, clinical picture, short and long term follow up. The angiography findings were correlated. The average age of the patients was 42 years, 75% were male and 25% female. The 36 cases represent 7% of the total MI. Cigarette smoking was the only important risk factor. MI was the first manifestation of ischemic heart disease in 94% of the cases. The ejection fraction was normal in 94%; 27.6% presented some complication during the acute event. In the long term follow; up to 88% of the patients are asymptomatic. The physiopathologic mechanisms are analyzed.