[Prodromal symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

Enquiry among 85 patients who had suffered myocardial infarction revealed prodromal symptoms in 69%, which consisted of a gradually developing angina in 28% and sudden severe thoracic pains in 31%. The localization of the pain in the prodrome coincided with that of the infarction in 82%. Prodromes occurred most frequently in patients with infarction of the anterior wall. Prodromal patients showed hyperlipidemia more frequently as a risk factor. Cardiac arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, indications of incipient aneurysm of the heart wall and signs of heart failure were no less frequent in patients with and without prodromal symptoms. 42% of the patients sought medical attention because of the prodromal complaints. The therapeutic possibilities arising from this are discussed.