The purpose of the work was to assess whether during several years of echocardiographic follow-up of patients after myocardial infarction later contralateral asynergy develops (i.e. asynergy of another coronary vessel than that which supplies the area of the infarction) and what are the clinical symptoms associated with its development. In a group of 208 patients followed-up for 1-5 years contralateral asynergy was found in 19 patients (i.e. 9.1%). In 12 patients the development of contralateral asynergy was asymptomatic, in 18 patients significant stenosis or occlusion of the coronary artery which supplied the area of the contralateral asynergy was present. It can thus be concluded from the results that contralateral asynergy develops after myocardial infarction in cca 9% patients and usually its development is asymptomatic. The finding of contralateral asynergy on echocardiographic examination indicates multiple affection of the coronary circulation.

Keywords: Adult; Aged; Coronary Angiography; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Contraction; Myocardial Infarction /diagnostic imaging/; Ultrasonography; Ventricular Function, Left