Does motor dysfunction after cerebral infarction impede the development of angina symptoms? A comparison of coronary angiographic findings in patients with and without prior cerebral infarction.

Previous studies based on coronary angiography or computed tomography coronary angiography have demonstrated a high prevalence of coronary stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction and no prior history of coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to compare the coronary angiographic findings of patients with prior cerebral infarction with those of patients with no prior cerebral infarction. Consecutive patients (n = 126) who underwent a first coronary angiography for suspected CAD but had no prior history of CAD were classified into 2 groups, those with a clinical history of cerebral infarction (cerebral infarction group) and those without a clinical history of cerebral infarction (noncerebral infarction group). The incidences of diabetes mellitus, peripheral artery disease, coronary stenosis, and multivessel disease were significantly higher in the cerebral infarction group than in the noncerebral infarction group. Multiple logistic regression analysis relating to coronary stenosis identifi ed prior cerebral infarction (P = 0.0027, odds ratio = 4.414) and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.0446, odds ratio = 2.619) as explanatory factors. Thirty-four of 78 patients (44%) with coronary stenosis did not have angina symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis regarding the lack of angina symptoms identified motor dysfunction (modified Rankin scale ≥ 2) (P = 0.0028, odds ratio = 8.323) as an explanatory factor. The results of the present study suggest that compared with patients without cerebral infarction those with the disorder have a high prevalence of coronary stenosis, and indicate that the development of angina symptoms is influenced by the severity of motor dysfunction.