[Clinical significance of the muscular bands in the coronary arteries].

In 936 coronary angiocardiographies we found 46 patients with muscular bands. This report concerns 23 patients in which a muscular band was the only coronary pathological finding. In all cases the muscular band was located at the anterior descending artery. The angiocardiographic features that distinguishes the muscular epicardial bands are pointed out. The muscular bands can produce myocardial ischemic changes. Eighty-two per cent had ischemic changes in the resting EKG. Stress tests were positive only when the systolic obstruction was greater than 70%. The ischemic changes were observed in the myocardial zone irrigated by the narrowed artery and in 60% of the cases were accompanied by malfunction of the ventricular wall. In a follow up period averaging 28 months, the majority improved with beta-blockers. Two remained with angina.