Early treadmill testing and coronary arteriography after myocardial infarction.

Thirteen male patients underwent early symptom-limited treadmill testing and coronary arteriography after their first myocardial infarction. All were functional class I at the time of evaluation, and none sustained any complications. Of five patients with a negative treadmill test, two had single-vessel disease, one had double-vessel disease, and two had triple-vessel disease. Two had elective aortocoronary bypass surgery, and three remained asymptomatic during a one-year follow-up. Eight patients had a positive test. From this group, one had single-vessel disease, one had double-vessel disease, and six had triple-vessel disease, including two with stenosis of the left main coronary artery. Four had aortocoronary bypass surgery, two died suddenly, progressive angina developed in one, and one remained asymptomatic. Early treadmill testing and coronary angiography in asymptomatic survivors of their first myocardial infarction is safe and extremely valuable in identifying patients with critical multivessel coronary artery disease.