Among the various forms of angina pectoris related to coronary artery disease, the Prinzmetal type is only seldom within the diagnostic possibilities of the general practitioner. Angina pectoris recurring after coronary artery bypass surgery calls for prompt coronary angiography. An active approach is also justified in postinfarction angina because of the usually severe underlying coronary lesions. Therefore, failure of medical therapy calls for further early investigations. In typical primary angina pectoris in man, failure of medical therapy requires angiography mainly to determine whether surgery is feasible. The same attitude should be followed in women, but bearing in mind that the probability of intact coronary arteries is much greater. The goal of the examination is then to "calm" the situation. In atypical forms of primary angina pectoris there is a high probability of intact coronary arteries, especially if the ECG at rest and at exercise remains normal. Nevertheless, this probability is not sufficiently great to exclude further investigations (isotopic or angiographic, according to the adopted policy).