Conservative Approach Might Be the Strategy by Default in Stable Angina Patients: A Case Report ()
1. Background
Stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) remained the leading cause of death in many countries [1]. It’s revealed classically by angina but may have various clinical presentations. It represents one of the numerous scenarios of the chronic coronary syndrome as defined by the recent ESC guideline [2]. It’s a growing matter of interest since its management is not well established. In fact, we still, do not clearly know the best approach between conservative and invasive management in these patients.
Even though, important data from clinical randomized trials demonstrated that these two strategies make equal play [3] [4].
We report a case of stable angina patient related to a severe left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis managed medically with striking evolution.
2. Case Presentation
A 53-year-old man with unremarkable past medical history and cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia presented with stable angina.
History began with a constrictive chest pain associated with dyspnea occurring during walking with rapid progression leading the patient to consult his cardiologist.
During initial workup:
· His physical examination was normal;
· Laboratory data was unremarkable except for an abnormal lipid profile: low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) 1.41 g/l; total cholesterol 2.11 g/l, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) 0.68 g/l, triglycerides 0.61 g/l, of note ultrasensitive troponin was within normal range;
· Twelve-lead ECG during the initial presentation showed negative T waves in the anterior leads (Figure 1);
· An echocardiogram demonstrated a moderate hypokinesis of the septo-apical wall with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 61% Simpson biplane.
Due to the typical chest pain, the patient underwent a coronary angiogram without a prior stress test. It showed severe stenosis (90%) of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) ostium (Figure 2(A1), Figure 2(B1)). Of note, intracoronary nitrates administration didn’t improve the degree of the stenosis. The other coronary arteries were normal.
After the heart team discussion, the patient was sent to surgery for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Meanwhile optimal medical treatment comprising ATENOLOL 100 mg od; ATORVASTATIN 80 mg od; ASPIRIN 100 mg od; TRIMETAZIDINE 35 mg bid; MOLSIDOMINE 2 mg bid, AMLODIPINE 10 mg od was prescribed. However, due to financial concerns, the patient didn’t undergo surgery.
He adopted a very healthy lifestyle. He exercised regularly (around 45 minutes of running at least 5 days a week) along with a healthy diet (close as much as the Mediterranean regimen) and full adherence to his treatment and follow-up while struggling to afford CABG procedure.
Six years later, a control coronary angiogram before an eventual CABG revealed an astonishing recovery of the ostial LAD stenosis (Figure 2(A2), Figure 2(B2)).
![]()
Figure 1. First ECG showing sinus rhythm with negative T wave in the anterior leads.
![]()
![]()
Figure 2. Coronary angiograms. Initial coronary angiogram with very tight stenosis of the ostium of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, in left lateral view (A1) and antero-posterior 0 - caudal 30˚ (B1) views, see yellow arrow. Control coronary angiogram with significant regression of the ostial LAD plaque in respective views in (A2) and (B2), see yellow broken line circle.
· Laboratory data showed a better lipid profile (LDL 0.94 g/l; CT 1.54 g/l; HDL 0.57 g/l; TGD 0.77 g/l);
· Twelve-lead ECG, before coronary angiogram, was normal (Figure 3);
· The echocardiogram showed no evidence of structural heart disease, LVEF was normal (65% by Simpson Biplane);
· We decided to keep the patient on conservative guideline-based medical therapy after exercise stress echocardiogram assessment;
· The latter, performed under optimal treatment (ATENOLOL 100 MG daily, was normal. The patient reached 95% of workload predicted for age and sex and 150 Watts without chest pain and wall motion abnormalities.
We recommended to the patient to continue healthy lifestyle and medical observance through regular follow-up with his cardiologist.
3. Discussion
Stable angina is included in the chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) new entity since the latest guidelines of the European Society of cardiology on the subject [2]. It is a very dynamic area in terms of management and still a matter of controversy.
Our patient’s presentation was rapidly progressive stable angina, leading his cardiologist to send him directly to the catheterization laboratory for coronary angiography. One may skip functional ischemic testing when symptoms are very typical as recommended by the latest ESC guideline [2].
The patient was sent to surgery after a heart team discussion given his young age and the anatomic particularities of the lesion, characterized by a trifurcation lesion and ostial proximal LAD lesion, which can also be described as left main trifurcation lesion with one vessel involvement. However, he was also suitable for angioplasty, his Syntax score was 13. According to the recent ESC guideline on the revascularization, proximal LAD stenosis (or left main disease with low SYNTAX score (0 - 22) can be addressed by angioplasty as well as by CABG with IA class of recommendation [5].
![]()
Figure 3. ECG2 showing sinus rhythm with normal repolarization pattern.
CABG wasn’t performed, but fortunately, the patient was a stickler for his treatment and lifestyle modification, as witnessed by the significant reduction of the LDL cholesterol. Of note, he was naïve of antianginal drugs and disease-modifying agents before the coronary angiogram. He exercised regularly and had a consistent follow-up. Thus, the regression of the ostial LAD plaque is the fruit of a well-conducted guideline-based medical therapy and a healthy lifestyle. The main consequence of these measures being the intensive plasma lipid reduction, appears to have a major impact on plaque volume regression as demonstrated by large-scale clinical trials [6] [7].
Mechanisms by which lipid-lowering may reduce and stabilize plaque volume have been well documented. A recent pooled analysis of several serial coronary IVUS trials provided strong insights as to how statins may stabilize plaque beyond their effects on plaque regression [8]. These results demonstrate that statins, particularly high-intensity statin therapy, stabilize plaque by promoting calcification in addition to their plaque regressing-effects. Furthermore, no need to mention the clinical benefit associated with those effects [9] [10].
Thus, our case report adds credit to conservative strategy recommended in patients with stable angina. A similar case with the multivessel disease showed excellent symptoms control and an increase in exercise tolerance with optimal medical therapy alone [11].
The International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches (ISCHEMIA) demonstrated no significant difference between the two strategies in the rate of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or resuscitated cardiac arrest [3]. This recent randomized clinical trial, as well as the previous one like COURAGE4, shows us that wisdom lays on a conservative approach in stable patients, at least as the first intention. However, one should keep in mind, as clearly stated by the guidelines, that revascularization should be considered in case of persisting angina despite optimized medical therapy. Furthermore, we should consider the “PCI-first approach” to improve prognosis particularly in patients with LM disease >50%, multivessel disease, in the presence of LV dysfunction, or large (>10% LV) area of ischemia.
4. Conclusion
Stable angina, even severe, can be managed efficiently by medical therapy along with healthy lifestyle modification. There is growing evidence supporting a conservative strategy with guideline-based medical therapy as the approach by default in patients with stable angina.
Consent
The authors confirm that written consent for submission and publication of the image(s) and associated text has been obtained from the patient (or next of kin where appropriate) in line with COPE guidance.