The use of dipyridamole and radioactive 133Xe clearance test for assessment of coronary reserve in anginal patients

Coronary flow reserve was assessed by means of the 133Xe clearance test making use of dipyridamole in the left coronary artery of 11 patients with angina of effort and coronary arterial stenoses involving also the basin of the left coronary artery (group 1), 6 patients with the anginal syndrome showing no angiographic evidence of coronary lesions (group 2A), and 6 patients with cardialgias and intact coronarograms (group 2B). Coronary reserve was shown to be decreased in groups 1 and 2A, as compared to the values shown by group 2B patients