The Erysichthon syndrome. Progression of coronary atherosclerosis and dietary hyperlipidemia.

One hundred nineteen patients with coronary artery disease confirmed by coronary arteriograms were studied. Cine coronary arteriography confirmed progression of atherosclerosis in 106 (89%) patients (mean age 50.9 yr) and nonprogression in 13 (11%) patients (mean age 50.3 yr). Progression was defined as follows: any increase to 50% stenosis, 50% to 75% narrowing, 75% to 90%, 90% to 99%, 99% to total occlusion. Only one patient of the 106 who progressed (less than 1%) had ideal values for both cholesterol and triglyceride. Three of 13 patients (23%) who did not progress had ideal lipid values (P less than 0.005). Fifty four of 106 patients who progressed had cholesterol levels greater than or equal to 250 mg%; none of 13 patients who did not progress had such levels (P less than 0.005). Thirty-nine of 98 (40%) patients who progressed had hypertension; only one (8%) who did not progress had hypertension (P less than 0.025). Seventy-four of 96 patients who progressed were smokers (77%); two of 13 nonprogression patients smoked (15%) (P less than 0.005).