BACKGROUND Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease. However, similarities and differences between coronary spasm and atherosclerosis are not known. We examined the angiographic characteristics of coronary spasm in comparison with those of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-two left anterior descending arteries, 11 left circumflex arteries,...

In this study we attempted to determine if the cold pressor test, a known sympathetic reflexogenic stimulus, could precipitate coronary artery spasm. Thirty-five patients undergoing coronary arteriography for evaluation of chest pain syndromes were given the cold pressor test. During 1 minute of cold pressor stimulation, aortic systolic pressure increased 18.1 ± 9.7 mm Hg (mean ± SD) and heart ...

BACKGROUND Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease and it may be associated with low-grade inflammation. METHODS AND RESULTS Intracoronary injection of acetylcholine was done in 199 patients (99 men, 100 women, mean age, 64.5+/-11.0 years) with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms. According to the results of the provocation test, the study su...

Coronary spasm can usually be controlled by administration of Ca antagonists. However, there are some cases of coronary spasm whose attacks cannot be controlled even with large doses of Ca antagonist and/or its combination with nitrates. Here we describe the case of a 41-year-old man whose attacks of coronary spasm were resistant to the combined administration of nitrates, Ca antagonists, and a...

The effects of dopamine on arteries are different depending on the dose, route of administration, and receptor population. Its administration can cause vasodilation by stimulation of dopaminergic receptors, vasoconstriction by stimulation of alpha-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors, and even spasm of cerebral arteries when given intracisternally in dogs. The ability of dopamine to provoke co...

BACKGROUND Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart diseases in general. However, the precise mechanism(s) responsible for coronary spasm remains to be elucidated, and we examined the molecular genetics of coronary spasm. METHODS AND RESULTS We searched for the possible mutations in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene in patients with coronary...

To elucidate the pathogenic contribution of a potent vasoconstrictor, endothelin-1, to coronary artery spasm, we provoked spasm with intracoronary administration of acetylcholine or ergonovine and performed sensitive immunoassays of plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in the peripheral vein and coronary sinus of patients with a tentative diagnosis of vasospastic an...

In this study we attempted to determine if the cold pressor test, a known sympathetic reflexogenic stimulus, could precipitate coronary artery spasm. Thirty-five patients undergoing coronary arteriography for evaluation of chest pain syndromes were given the cold pressor test. During 1 minute of cold pressor stimulation, aortic systolic pressure increased 18.1 ± 9.7 mm Hg (mean ± SD) and heart ...

Coronary artery spasm usually responds to sublingual nitroglycerin. This report describes four patients with variant angina and one patient with rest angina who had coronary spasm that was refractory to sublingual or i.v. nitroglycerin. In four patients, spasm occurred spontaneous and in one patient after 0.05 mg of ergonovine. In each case, 25-100 micrograms of intracoronary nitroglycerin prom...

Coronary artery spasm usuafly reponds to sublingual nitroglycerin. This report describes four patients with variant angina and one patient with rest angina who had coronary spasm that was refractory to sublingual or i.v. nitroglycerin. In four patients, spasm occurred spontaneously and in one patient after 0.05 mg of ergonovine. In each case, 25-100 ,ug of intracoronary nitroglycerin promptly (...