The Frequency Of Left Anterior Desëending Artery Disease: A P.I.M.S Experience

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the frequency of Left Anterior Descending Artery disease. Methods: Analysis of Coronary angiography register at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences enrolling 145’ patients between May 1996 and September 1997. Results: Analysis of 119 abnormal angiograrns showed that LAD disease was prevalent in 108 out of 119 cases. LAD as a single vessel involved was present in 30 out of 108 cases, as part of double vessel in 34 out of 108, with exactly similar frequency in association with circumflex and right coronary artery disease, and as part of triple vessel in 44 out of 108 cases. Mean ages of presentation at angiography for single vessel disease were lower than that for double or triple vessel. 68 out of 108 affected LAD arteries had 90-100% stenosis, 11 had 65-89% stenosis, 12 had 50-65% and minor luminal irregularitV was seen in 9 cases while 7 cases showed involvement of their major tributaries Involvement of LAD was predominantly proximal. Conclusions: LAD disease is seen in Pakistan at a higher frequency (90%) than reported from similar case series in the west (70%).