Distribution of coronary atherosclerosis and its correlation to metabolic risk factors and femoral atherosclerosis.

Coronary angiography was performed in 216 men of whom 78 also had a cine-angiogram of one femoral artery. Stenoses of the coronary arteries were measured with a pair of calipers and the femoral angiograms were computer-analysed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the bulk of the coronary stenoses affected the central or the peripheral part of the coronary arteries. The groups were investigated regarding differences in lipid and metabolic risk factors. Coronary atherosclerosis was most often found in the proximal part of the right coronary arteries. No significant correlation between coronary and femoral atherosclerosis was found. Previous myocardial infarction was associated with more coronary artery stenosis (p < 0.003). No pattern of risk factors was found to discriminate between central and peripheral coronary atherosclerosis.