CORONARY-ARTERY CALCIFICATION IN WOMEN WITH SYNDROME-X - USEFULNESS OF DOUBLE-HELICAL CT FOR DETECTION

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of double-helical computed tomogr aphy (CT) for detection of diseased coronary arteries in women with an ginal pain, positive exercise stress test results, and angiographicall y normal coronary arteries (syndrome X). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Double -helical CT of the coronary arteries was performed in 81 consecutive w omen who were referred for coronary angiography for evaluation of ches t pain. Patients were classified into three groups according to stress test and angiographic results: normal (normal exercise test results a nd angiographically normal coronary arteries), syndrome X (abnormal ex ercise test results and angiographically normal coronary arteries), an d coronary artery disease (at least one diseased vessel seen at angiog raphy). RESULTS: The prevalence of coronary calcification in the syndr ome X group was 63% (10 of 16 patients) compared with 96% (45 of 47 pa tients) in the coronary artery disease group (P = .002) and 22% (four of 18 patients) in the normal group (P = .02). The lowest total corona ry calcification score and logarithmic transformed data were found in the normal group (2.9 +/- 0.7), statistically significantly higher val ues were found in the syndrome X group (4.3 +/- 1.5), and the highest values were found in the coronary artery disease group (5.1 +/- 2.0; f or trend, P = .03). CONCLUSION: Double-helical CT may be useful in det ection of atherosclerosis in women with syndrome X who demonstrate nor mal coronary arteries at angiography.