Angiographic demonstration of spontaneous diffuse three vessel coronary artery spasm

J Am Coll Cardiol. 1989 Aug;14(2):523-7. doi: 10.1016/0735-1097(89)90211-8.

Abstract

The spontaneous occurrence of diffuse three vessel coronary artery spasm was documented during routine coronary angiography in three patients with a history of variant angina. Quantitative angiographic analysis of 18 arterial segments demonstrated that the mean luminal diameter of 1.47 mm during spasm increased to 2.47 mm after the administration of nitroglycerin (p less than 0.0001). The underlying coronary arteries were normal or near normal. Although multivessel spasm has previously been considered to be uncommon and its spontaneous occurrence during angiography only rarely documented, these cases suggest that it may be more common than previously recognized. In addition to important diagnostic considerations, this phenomenon may have important implications regarding the pathophysiologic role of endothelium in coronary artery spasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angina Pectoris, Variant / diagnostic imaging
  • Angiography
  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / physiopathology
  • Coronary Vessels / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged