Provocation of microvessel spasm by low-dose acetylcholine in patients with suspected coronary artery disease--two case reports

Angiology. 2005 Mar-Apr;56(2):211-6. doi: 10.1177/000331970505600211.

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac syndrome X, and intracoronary low-dose acetylcholine infusion is a widely used diagnostic modality for studying the coronary artery endothelial function. The authors herein report 2 cases of cardiac syndrome X with coronary artery endothelial dysfunction and microvessel spasm. The findings of non-invasive testing were positive for ischemia. Coronary angiograms appeared entirely normal in both cases. However, the intracoronary infusion of low-dose (1.5-15 microg/minute) acetylcholine demonstrated an impairment of the coronary blood flow response and consequently provoked an ST-segment elevation in an electrocardiogram. The coronary angiograms showed no spasm in the epicardial arteries. These patients are thus suggested to have cardiac syndrome X with microvessel spasms associated with coronary artery endothelial dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine*
  • Blood Flow Velocity / drug effects
  • Cholinergic Agents*
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Circulation / drug effects
  • Coronary Circulation / physiology
  • Coronary Disease / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Disease / physiopathology
  • Coronary Vasospasm / chemically induced*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrocardiography
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intra-Arterial
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Microcirculation / drug effects
  • Microcirculation / physiopathology
  • Microvascular Angina / diagnosis*
  • Microvascular Angina / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Cholinergic Agents
  • Acetylcholine