The Rho(ad)-kinase for individualized treatment of vasospastic angina

Rho-Associated Kinase 2 Polymorphism in Patients With Vasospastic Angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Recent studies indicate that in response to vasoconstrictor stimuli, the small GTPase RhoA and its down-stream effector, Rho-associated kinase 2 (ROCK)/Rho-kinase, are associated with hypercontraction of the vascular smooth muscle of coronary arteries through augmentation of myosin light chain phosphorylation and Ca(2+) sensitization. Expression of ROCK/Rho-kinase mRNA...

Thyrotoxicosis-induced vasospastic angina.

Vasospastic Angina in Identical Twins

BACKGROUND The clinical conditions of various diseases, including coronary artery disease, are determined by genetics and the environment. Previous investigations noted the significance of genetic mutations and polymorphisms in cases of coronary spasm. CASE REPORT We report on monozygotic identical twins who almost simultaneously presented with vasospastic angina. The 58-year-old younger twin...

Prognostic stratification of patients with vasospastic angina.

Prognostic Stratification of Patients With Vasospastic Angina A Comprehensive Clinical Risk Score Developed by the Japanese Coronary Spasm Association Yusuke Takagi, MD,* Jun Takahashi, MD,* Satoshi Yasuda, MD,y Satoshi Miyata, PHD,* Ryusuke Tsunoda, MD,z Yasuhiro Ogata, MD,z Atsushi Seki, MD,x Tetsuya Sumiyoshi, MD,x Motoyuki Matsui, MD,k Toshikazu Goto, MD,k Yasuhiko Tanabe, MD,{ Shozo Sueda,...

Suppression of coronary artery spasm by the Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil in patients with vasospastic angina.

BACKGROUND Increased activity of Rho-kinase causes hypercontraction of vascular smooth muscle and has been implicated as playing a pathogenetic role in divergent cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery spasm. We examined whether an intracoronary infusion of fasudil, a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, would attenuate coronary vasoconstrictor responses to acetylcholine (ACh) in patients wi...