糖尿病心肌病患者与抗G-蛋白偶联型受体血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体和肾上腺素能α1受体自身抗体的初步研究

目的:探讨抗G-蛋白偶联型受体血管紧张素Ⅱl型受体(AT1受体)和肾上腺素能α1受体(α1受体)自身抗体是否与糖尿病心肌病发病有关.方法:以合成的AT1与α1受体多肽片段为抗原,应用酶联免疫吸附测定技术,检测196例住院及门诊体检者血清中抗G-蛋白偶联型受体AT1和α1受体自身抗体,其中糖尿病心肌病患者46例(糖尿病心肌病组),2型糖尿病52例(糖尿病组),高血压无靶器官受损患者58例(高血压组)及正常对照组40例.结果:糖尿病心肌病组抗AT1受体自体抗体阳性率和抗α1受体自身抗体阳性率,明显高于糖尿病组、高血压组以及正常对照组,有显著性差异(P均＜0.05～0.01).结论:免疫学机制可能参与糖尿病心肌病病理生理过程.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体、α1和β1肾上腺素能受体自身抗体与甲状腺毒症性心脏病相关性分析

目的 探讨抗G-蛋白耦联型血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体(AT1R)、α1肾上腺素能受体(α1R)和β1肾上腺素能受体(β1R)自身抗体是否与甲状腺毒症性心脏病(THD)发病相关.方法 以细胞外第二环表位肽段的合成肽作为抗原,应用酶联免疫吸附技术检测277例受试者血清中AT1R、α1R和β1R自身抗体.237例甲状腺毒症(TT)患者分为治疗组(n=148)和恢复组(n=89)、或THD(n=46)和TT无心脏病组(n=191).正常对照组40名.结果 (1)TT组AT1R、α1R和β1R自身抗体阳性率分别为31.6％、27.8％和23.6％,明显高于正常对照组的12.5％ 、10.0％和7.5％ (P＜0.05);TT患者中弥漫性毒性甲状腺肿(GD)组3种受体自身抗体阳性率(36.3％、32.2％和28.1％)明显高于非GD组(19.7％、16.7％和12.1％,均P＜0.05).(2)TT治疗组AT1R和α1R自身抗体阳性率(40.5％和33.1％)明显高于TT恢复组(16.9％和19.1％,均P＜0.05).(3) THD组AT1R和α1R自身抗体阳性率(52.2％和43.5％)明显高于TT无心脏病组(26.7％和24.1％,均P＜0.05).结论 抗G-蛋白耦联型AT1R、α1R和β1R自身抗体可能与甲状腺毒症发病有关,且AT1R和α1R自身抗体在THD病理生理过程中发挥重要作用.     

高血压合并肾损害患者血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体和α1受体自身抗体与尿白蛋白

目的 探讨高血压合并肾损害患者血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体(AT1R)和α1受体自身抗体与蛋白尿的关系.方法 以合成的AT1R和α1受体多肽片段为抗原,应用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)技术,检测高血压合并肾损害患者(A组)71例、高血压无肾损害患者(B组)60例及40例健康者(C组)血清中抗G蛋白偶联型AT1R和α1受体自身抗体.尿白蛋白检测亦用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定技术检测.A组根据尿白蛋白排泄率(UAER)再分为A1组(UAER≥200 μg/min)与A2组(UAER 20～199 μg/min).结果 A组抗AT1和α1受体抗体阳性率为54.9%(39/71)和54.9%(39/71),明显高于B组的13.3%(7/60)和15.0%(9/60)及C组的12.5%(5/40)和7.5%(3/40),P＜0.01.UAER较高的A1组,抗AT1R和α1受体自身抗体阳性率为87.1%(27/31)和80.6%(25/31),明显高于UAER较低的A2组的30.0%(12/40)和35.0%(14/40),P＜0.01.结论 血清抗G蛋白偶联型AT1R和α1受体自身抗体可能与高血压合并肾损害有关,AT1R和α1受体自身抗体阳性率与尿微量白蛋白排出的严重程度有关.AT1R和α1受体自身抗体在高血压合并肾损害发病中起了重要作用.     

高血压合并肾损害患者血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体和α_1受体自身抗体与尿白蛋白

目的探讨高血压合并肾损害患者血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体(AT1R)和α1受体自身抗体与蛋白尿的关系。方法以合成的AT1R和α1受体多肽片段为抗原,应用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)技术,检测高血压合并肾损害患者(A组)71例、高血压无肾损害患者(B组)60例及40例健康者(C组)血清中抗G蛋白偶联型AT1R和α1受体自身抗体。尿白蛋白检测亦用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定技术检测。A组根据尿白蛋白排泄率(UAER)再分为A1组(UAER≥200μg/min)与A2组(UAER20~199μg/min)。结果A组抗AT1和α1受体抗体阳性率为54.9%(39/71)和54.9%(39/71),明显高于B组的13.3%(7/60)和15.0%(9/60)及C组的12.5%(5/40)和7.5%(3/40),P<0.01。UAER较高的A1组,抗AT1R和α1受体自身抗体阳性率为87.1%(27/31)和80.6%(25/31),明显高于UAER较低的A2组的30.0%(12/40)和35.0%(14/40),P<0.01。结论血清抗G蛋白偶联型AT1R和α1受体自身抗体可能与高血压合并肾损害有关,AT1R和α1受体自身抗体阳性率与尿微量白蛋白排出的严重程度有关。AT1R和α1受体自身抗体在高血压合并肾损害发病中起了重要作用。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ1型和α1肾上腺素能受体抗体对预测老年2型糖尿病合并冠心病患者死亡危险性分析

目的 探讨血清抗血管紧张素Ⅱ 1型和α1肾上腺素能受体抗体与老年T2DM合并冠心病（CAD）患者死亡危险性的关系. 方法 选取老年T2DM患者234例,根据是否合并CAD平均分为T2DM合并冠心病（T2DM＋CAD）组和单纯糖尿病（T2DM）组,进行追踪研究3～11年.以合成的α1R和AT1R多肽片段为抗原,应用酶联免疫吸附法检测上述患者血清中抗α1R和AT1R自身抗体. 结果 （1） T2DM＋CAD组AT1R和α1R抗体阳性率高于T2DM组（48.7％ vs 20.5％,36.8％vs21.4％,P＜0.01）；（2）T2DM＋CAD组抗α1R和AT1R抗体受体阳性组死亡率高于受体抗体阴性组（47.4％vs10.0％,P＜0.01）；（3）α1R和AT1R抗体阳性组（指同一个体α1R和AT1R均阳性）死亡率高于单抗体阳性组（指同一个体仅α1R或AT1R阳性）（37.2％ vs 11.6％ vs 12.3％,P＜0.01）. 结论 α1R和AT1R抗体阳性与老年T2DM合并CAD患者死亡的危险性增高有关,双抗体阳性是老年T2DM合并CAD患者死亡的危险因素.     

高血压脑卒中患者血清抗血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体和α1肾上腺素受体自身抗体的观察

目的观察抗血管紧张素Ⅱ1型(AT1)受体和α1肾上腺素受体自身抗体的产生是否由高血压脑卒中所引起.方法以合成的AT1受体、α1肾上腺素受体细胞外第二带多肽片段作为抗原,用ELISA 法检测高血压脑卒中患者及正常人(各281例)血清中的抗AT1和α1受体自身抗体.结果281例高血压脑卒中患者中128例抗AT1受体自身抗体阳性(阳性率45.6%),97例抗α1受体自身抗体阳性(阳性率34.5%),两种抗体阳性均明显高于正常血压对照者(分别为9.3%、6.8%,P<0.01),但在3种类型脑卒中亚组中,抗AT1和α1受体自身抗体阳性率无明显差异(P>0.05),按脑卒中发病时间分亚组,抗体阳性率也无明显差异.结论高血压脑卒中患者抗AT1和α1受体自身抗体检出频率显著增高,该抗体并非继发于脑卒中,而是与原发性高血压本身有关.     

2型糖尿病伴左心室扩大患者与血清抗β1和抗血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体自身抗体的关系

目的 探讨2型糖尿病伴左心室扩大患者与血清抗B1和抗血管紧张索Ⅱ 1受体(AT1)自身抗体的关系.方法 选择171例2型糖尿病合并高血压患者(其中左心室扩大患者57例,左心室正常患者114例),106例糖尿病无高血压患者.以合成的β1和AT1受体多肽片段为抗原,应用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)技术,检测上述患者血清中抗G-蛋白偶联型B1和AT1受体自身抗体.用超声心动图检查评价心脏结构和功能.用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定技术测定24 h尿蛋白排泄率(UAER).并运用多元logistic回归分析2型糖尿病患者左心室扩大的影响因素.结果 糖尿病并高血压组抗B1和AT_1受体抗体阳性率为45.0%(77/171)和46.2%(79/171),明显高于糖尿病无高血压组的16.0%(17/106)和10.4%(11/106),两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).糖尿病伴左心室扩大组抗β1和AT_1受体抗体阳性率分别为61.4%(35/57)和64.9%(37/57),明显高于糖尿病心脏正常组的36.8%(42/114)和36.8%(42/114),两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).多元logistic回归分析显示4个与左心室扩大相关的危险因素,即病程、收缩压、β1和AT_1受体抗体(P均＜0.05).结论 血清β1和AT)_1受体自身抗体与糖尿病并高血压左心室扩大有关,该抗体阳性可能对预测糖尿病合并高血压左心室扩大具有重要意义.     

抗血管紧张素Ⅱ受体1型和α1-肾上腺素受体自身抗体在高血压患者检测结果分析

目的探讨抗血管紧张素Ⅱ受体1型(AT1-受体)和α1-肾上腺素受体自身抗体在高血压发病中的作用.方法收集2级以上高血压病患者194例,给予规范抗高血压联合药物治疗,根据治疗效果,将高血压病患者分为降压达标组和降压未达标组,40例正常血压志愿者作为对照.以合成的抗AT1-受体和α1-肾上腺素受体多肽片段为抗原,酶联免疫吸附法检测血清抗AT1-受体和α1-肾上腺素受体自身抗体.同时检测血浆肾素活性、血管紧张素Ⅱ和儿茶酚胺浓度.结果高血压病组抗AT1-和α1-受体抗体阳性率分别为26.8%(52/194)和 25.3%(49/194),较正常血压组(7.5% 和 5.0%)明显升高(P<0.01).进一步分析表明,降压未达标组抗AT1-受体和α1-肾上腺素受体抗体阳性率分别为42.9%(42/98)和36.7%(36/98),明显高于降压达标组(10.4%和13.5%)(P<0.01).降压未达标组血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ水平、儿茶酚胺水平、蛋白尿和血清肌酐水平等指标亦明显高于降压达标组.结论高血压病患者血清存在抗AT1-受体和α1-肾上腺素受体自身抗体,这些抗体主要在难治性高血压病患者中检出,可能是高血压发病的机制之一.     

2型糖尿病患者G蛋白偶联型β1和血管紧张素II1受体抗体与冠心病关系的研究

目的探讨T2DM患者血清抗血管紧张素II 1受体(AT1受体)和β1受体自身抗体(β1受体)与冠心病(CHD)的关系。方法采用随机对照的方法,选择T2DM患者371例(T2DM组)和健康对照者40名(NC组),以合成的AT1和β1受体多肽片段为抗原,应用ELISA法检测被试血清中抗G-蛋白偶联型AT1和β1受体自身抗体。使用超声心动图检查评价心脏结构和功能。多元Logistic回归分析T2DM患者CHD的影响因素。结果 (1)T2DM组抗AT1和β1受体抗体阳性率高于NC组(P<0.01)。(2)T2DM患者中,AT1受体抗体阳性组CHD发生率高于受体抗体阴性组(P<0.01);β1受体抗体阳性组CHD发生率高于受体抗体阴性组(P<0.01);(3)多元Logistic回归分析显示,病程、SBP、β1和AT1受体抗体4个危险因素与T2DM合并CHD相关(P<0.05)。结论 T2DM合并CHD可能与血清β1和AT1受体自身抗体参与有关,该抗体阳性预测T2DM合并CHD具有重要意义。     

心力衰竭患者与心脏β2、α1肾上腺素能受体和血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体的自身抗体

目的　本研究检测不同心脏病所致的慢性心力衰竭 (心衰 )患者 β2 、α1 肾上腺素能受体和血管紧张素Ⅱ 1型 (AT1 )受体的自身抗体 ,探讨心功能发生病理变化时 ,上述三种自身抗体的产生与疾病的相关性。方法　以细胞外第二环表位肽段的合成肽作为抗原 ,应用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)技术 ,随机检测 2 67例受试者血清中 β2 、α1 和AT1 受体的自身抗体。心衰组为 2 0 6例不同心脏病的心衰患者 ,其中缺血性心肌病 63例、扩张型心肌病 86例、高血压病 57例。正常组为 61例正常人作对照。结果　 (1 )心衰组 β2 、α1 和AT1 受体的自身抗体阳性分别为 46 1 % (95/ 2 0 6)、48 5 % (1 0 0 /2 0 6)和 46 6 % (96/ 2 0 6) ,明显高于正常组的 8 2 % (5/ 61 )、9 8% (6/ 61 )和 1 3 1 % (8/ 61 ) ,P <0 0 1 ;(2 )心衰组自身抗体阳性患者的抗体滴度分别为 1∶89、1∶98和 1∶96 ,明显高于正常组的 1∶35、1∶32和 1∶31 ,P <0 0 1 ;(3)心衰组 β2 受体自身抗体阳性者 95例中 ,有 60例 (63 2 % )患者同时具有α1 受体的自身抗体 ,有 64例 (67 4% )患者同时具有AT1 受体的自身抗体 ,有 51例 (53 7% )的患者同时具有上述三种受体的自身抗体阳性。结论　β2 、α1 和AT1 受体的自身抗体不仅存在于多种心脏病心衰患者     

三种无创检查方法诊断冠心病无症状心肌缺血的价值

本文以冠状动脉造影作为诊断冠心病的标准,对临床确诊为冠心病的患者进行运动心电图、运动~(201)铊心肌显像和动态心电图检查。结果证明:这三种方法诊断冠心病心肌缺血的敏感性在心绞痛组分别为85.9%、88.7%和58.4%,心肌梗塞组分别为77.2%、91.1%和53.4%,特异性分别为77%、90%和73%。检查中无症状心肌缺血发生率在心绞痛组分别为52.9%、56.3%和58.4%,心肌梗塞组分别为58.7%、75.3%和53.4%。表明这三种方法对诊断冠心病无症状心肌缺血有较高价值。     

Comparison of silent and symptomatic ischemia during exercise testing in men

OBJECTIVE: To compare angina and ST-segment depression during exercise testing, as markers for coronary artery disease. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of exercise test responses and cardiac catheterization results. SETTING: A U.S. Veterans Affairs medical center. PATIENTS: Four hundred and sixteen men who were referred for the evaluation of symptoms, postmyocardial infarction testing, or both. Two hundred patients had no clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of previous myocardial infarction, whereas 216 were survivors of a previous myocardial infarction. INTERVENTIONS: All patients did a standard exercise test and had diagnostic coronary angiography with ventriculography within an average of 32 days (range, 0 to 90 days) of their exercise test. RESULTS: Two hundred patients without a previous myocardial infarction were divided into four groups: the no ischemia group had 80 patients; the angina pectoris only group had 23 patients; the silent ischemia group had 40 patients; and the ST-segment depression and angina pectoris group had 57 patients. In patients without a previous myocardial infarction, exercise-induced ST-segment depression was a better marker than exercise-induced angina for the presence of any coronary artery disease (P less than 0.005). Patients with symptomatic exercise-induced ischemia had a higher prevalence of severe coronary artery disease than did those with only silent ischemia (30% compared with 20%; 95% CI, - 7.3% to 27.0%; P = 0.005). For the 216 survivors of a myocardial infarction, divided into the same four groups, ST-segment depression again was a better marker for the presence of severe coronary artery disease compared with angina alone (P = 0.08). The prevalence rates of severe coronary artery disease in the no ischemia plus myocardial infarction group, the angina pectoris only plus myocardial infarction group, the silent ischemia plus myocardial infarction group, and the ST-segment depression and angina pectoris plus myocardial infarction group were 10%, 9%, 23%, and 32%, respectively (P less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-induced ST-segment depression is a better marker for coronary artery disease than is exercise-induced angina. Symptomatic ischemia during the exercise test is a better marker for severe coronary artery disease than is silent ischemia.     

Clinical importance of silent ischemia]

Objective signs of myocardial ischemia without angina pectoris or its equivalents define the syndrome of silent myocardial ischemia. Its significance lies in the prevalence and prognostic implications. As a prevalence, asymptomatic coronary heart disease can be found in 2.5% of men 40 to 60 years old. Silent myocardial ischemia is frequently found in patients with unstable coronary syndromes. The Framingham Study showed 25% of all myocardial infarctions as unrecognized by patients and physicians. The prognostic implications of silent myocardial ischemia are shown in large studies on prognosis of pathologic exercise-ECG's. Asymptomatic patients with pathologic exercise-ECG have always been recognized as having a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction and death. Recently, many studies showed a worse prognosis for patients with asymptomatic transient ischemia on Holter-ECG. This can be found in patients with stable angina pectoris, unstable angina pectoris, patients with peripheral arterial disease, and patients after myocardial infarction. It becomes clear that prognosis is not defined by the pain, but by the severity of ischemia. Silent ischemia has to be viewed together with the severity of the underlying coronary heart disease. This synopsis will define the necessary steps for further diagnosis and treatment.     

Characteristics and assessment of clinical course of ischemic heart disease after aortocoronary bypass surgery

The features of the clinical course of coronary heart disease were examined in 325 patients 40.24 +/- 1.4 months after coronary bypass grafting. Based on the results of the comprehensive examination of the patients, its following patterns were identified: 1) asymptomatic without myocardial ischemia (30.8%); 2) asymptomatic in the presence of silent ischemia (3.5%); 3) effort angina pectoris (36.0%); 4) effort-and-rest angina (17.8%); 5) non-coronarogenic pain syndrome (11.7%), that is the patients in whom myocardial ischemia could not be provoked. The objective assessment of the patient's status in the preoperative period was demonstrated to predict a postoperative prognosis to a greater extent. Arterial hypertension and two prior myocardial infarctions, the number of diseased coronary arteries, the overall cardiac artery lesions and residual myocardial reserve were ascertained to be the most informative clinicofunctional measures in the assessment of the clinical course of coronary heart disease.     

Anginal symptoms without ischemic electrocardiographic changes during ambulatory monitoring in men with coronary artery disease

Episodes of angina pectoris without electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of myocardial ischemia during 24-hour ambulatory monitoring were studied in 128 patients with a history of stable angina, angiographically proven coronary artery disease and positive exercise test results. In all, 341 episodes of ischemic ECG changes (ST-segment depression greater than 1 mm for greater than 1 minute) and 190 episodes of angina pectoris were observed: 86 episodes consisted of both ECG changes and angina pectoris, 255 episodes consisted only of ECG changes, and 104 episodes only of angina pectoris. Duration and magnitude of ST-segment deviation and heart rate at the onset of ischemia were similar in the 86 symptomatic and the 255 asymptomatic episodes with ECG changes. The 104 episodes of angina pectoris without ECG changes were detected in 44 patients (34%) (group A); 29 of them had only episodes with angina pectoris and 15 patients had both--episodes of angina pectoris with and without ECG changes. In 84 patients (66%) (group B) angina pectoris without ECG changes was not observed; all episodes were accompanied by ischemic ECG changes in these patients. No differences in the angiographic extent of coronary artery disease and in exercise test data were seen in both groups A and B; however, maximal ST-segment depression during exercise testing was significantly greater in group B than in group A patients (2.4 +/- 0.8 mm vs 1.9 +/- 0.9 mm; p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prognostic implications of symptomatic versus asymptomatic (silent) myocardial ischemia induced by exercise in mildly symptomatic and in asymptomatic patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) may undergo periods of reversible myocardial ischemia without experiencing angina. To study the prognostic implications of "silent" myocardial ischemia induced by exercise, exercise electrocardiography and radionuclide angiography were performed in 131 consecutive patients with CAD, preserved left ventricular (LV) function at rest and mild or no symptoms during medical therapy. All patients who died during medical therapy were in the subgroup of patients with 3-vessel CAD in whom exercise-induced ischemia developed, which was characterized by both a decrease in LV ejection fraction and ST-segment depression. Patients in whom angina pectoris developed during exercise (54% of all patients) had a greater prevalence of this combined ischemic response to exercise than patients without angina (61% vs 27%, p less than 0.001) and also a greater prevalence of left main or 3-vessel CAD (59% vs 25%, p less than 0.001). However, when inducible ischemia was demonstrated, risk stratification and prognosis were the same whether the ischemic episode was symptomatic or silent. Among patients having both a reduction in ejection fraction and a positive ST-segment response, the likelihood of significant left main narrowing (13% vs 26%), 3-vessel CAD (56% vs 51%) and death during subsequent medical therapy (16% vs 9%) was similar in patients with silent compared to those with symptomatic ischemia. These data indicate that patients in whom angina develops during exercise have a greater prevalence of high-risk coronary anatomy and of inducible ischemia than patients without angina. However, once inducible ischemia is documented, the symptomatic response to exercise appears irrelevant for prognostic or risk stratification considerations.     

感染、炎症与冠心病关系的临床研究

目的　探讨肺炎衣原体 (CP)感染及可溶性细胞间粘附分子 - 1(s ICAM- 1)与冠心病 (CHD)的关系。方法　采用酶标法 (EIA)测定冠心病组 (6 0例 )和对照组 (6 0例 )血清 CP特异性抗体 Ig G,同时应用 EL ISA法测血清 TNF,s ICAM- 1的浓度。结果　急性心肌梗死组 (2 0例 ) CP Ig G阳性 17例 (85 % ) ,不稳定型心绞痛组 (2 0例 )阳性 16例(80 % ) ,稳定型心绞痛组 (2 0例 )阳性 14例 (70 % ) ,对照组阳性 30例 (5 0 % )。急性心肌梗死组、不稳定型心绞痛组与正常对照组相比 ,差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;冠心病组、急性心肌梗死组、不稳定型心绞痛组与正常对照组相比 ,血清 TNF、s ICAM- 1显著增高 (P<0 .0 1)。结论　患者 CP感染、脂质代谢紊乱、粘附分子表达增加、TNF- α作用可能参与了冠心病发生、发展的过程     

Clinical significance and management of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with angina pectoris and myocardial infarction

The present study was canued out to clarify the relationship between silent myocardial ischemia in patients with angina pectoris and onset of myocardial infarction, and the former's prognostic significance. The peak incidences of onset of myocardial infarction in patients were at 2 a.m., 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m., and the peak onsets of transient silent myocardial ischemia in angina pectoris patients were at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. Thus the most likely onset times were almost the same with both events. Of 169 patients with coronary artery disease admitted for treatment, 128 patients had no anginal attacks during follow-up and the remaining 41 had persistent angina despite adequate medical treatment. Holter monitoring electrocardiography was performed twice with the non-angina patients, during admission. Of these 128 patients, 54 showed no silent myocardial ischemia on either of the electrocardiographic recordings, 34 showed silent ischemia with the first Holter monitoring but not with the second one, and the remaining 41 showed silent myocardial ischemia on both tests. The subsequent incidences of "cardiac events" were 9.4%, 14.7%, and 36.6%, respectively for these three groups. Therefore, it is concluded that the presence of silent myocardial ischemia is closely related to onset of myocardial infarction and is an important prognostic factor in patients with coronary artery disease.     

Perception threshold of angina and transient myocardial ischemia in ambulatory electrocardiography]

AIM OF THE STUDY. We studied the predictive value of prolonged angina perception threshold in identifying patients with stable coronary artery disease at risk of silent myocardial ischemia during daily life. METHODS AND RESULTS. 71 patients with documented coronary artery disease (previous myocardial infarction or stenotic lesion > 60% at angiography) underwent a symptom-limited exercise test and out-of-hospital Holter monitoring after drug withdrawal. A second exercise test was performed before disconnecting the dynamic EKG in order to validate the ST-depression recorded during ambulatory monitoring. 23 patients (32.4%) (Group A) had angina perception threshold > 60 sec after onset of ischemia (ST > 1 mm), while in 48 (67.7%) the delay in the perception of angina was shorter than 60 sec (Group B). The demographic, clinical and angiographic variables did not influence the angina perception threshold; however, this parameter was the most powerful predictor of ambulatory ischemia among the two groups (4.8 vs 2.8 p < 0.02), and in particular of the painless episodes (3.8 vs 1.8 p < 0.002). Moreover, the silent ischemic time was longer in patients of group A (4362 vs 1774 sec p < 0.017). Finally, the event-free survival was similar in the two groups of patients during the 2 years of follow-up (cardiac death 1 vs 3, nonfatal myocardial infarction 1 vs 1, aorto-coronary bypass 2 vs 7, PTCA 2 vs 2, unstable angina 0 vs 2), total events 6 vs 15 p = ns. CONCLUSIONS. These results demonstrate that the patients at risk for silent ischemia during ambulatory monitoring may be identified simply by evaluating their angina perception threshold during exercise test; however, silent ischemia does not have an adverse prognostic value.