This study includes patients with stable coronary artery disease without previously known myocardial infarction, and investigates the prevalence of clinically unrecognized myocardial damage and its prognostic implication.

A substantial portion of all myocardial infarctions are not clinically recognized, but the myocardial damage can be recognized afterwards e g by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study includes patients with stable coronary artery disease without previously known myocardial infarction, and investigates the prevalence of clinically unrecognised myocardial damage (UMI), and the prognostic value of UMI regarding new cardiac events.

In a subset of the patients, the biologic intra-individual variability of troponin and other biochemical markers will be investigated (substudy protocol).

Inclusion Criteria:

• symptoms of stable angina pectoris according to the treating physician
• scheduled for coronary angiography
• written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• pathological Q-wave in the 12-lead resting ECG
• known previous myocardial infarction
• previous PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) or CABG (coronary artery bypass graft)
• history of congestive heart failure
• anything that contraindicates a MRI investigation (e.g. pacemaker, claustrophobia, intracranial clips)
• lack of suitability for participation in the trial, for any reason, as judged by the Investigator.

Patients with stable coronary artery disease without previously known myocardial infarction or coronary intervention