Synonyms
Coronary spastic angina; Variant angina; Vasospastic angina; Prinzmetal angina
Definition and Characteristics
Coronary spasm is defined as a dynamic and transient reduction in the luminal diameter of epicardial coronary arteries due to increased vasomotor tone, leading to myocardial ischemia. It was first reported as variant angina by Prinzmetal et al. [1], who demonstrated reversible myocardial ischemia accompanied by ST segment elevation on the electrocardiogram (ECG). At present, it is believed that coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of not only variant angina but ischemic heart disease as well, including other forms of angina, acute myocardial infarction, and ischemic sudden death. In general, patients with coronary spasm are younger than those with organic coronary stenosis and cigarette smoking is considered to be a major risk factor for coronary spasm. Typically, there is a circadian variation with an increased prevalence of anginal attacks from...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Prinzmetal M, Kennamer R, Merliss R, Wada T, Bor N (1959) Angina pectoris. I. A variant form of angina pectoris; preliminary report. Am J Med 27:375–388
Beltrame JF, Sasayama S, Maseri A (1999) Racial heterogeneity in coronary artery vasomotor reactivity: differences between Japanese and Caucasian patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 33:1442–1452
Sueda S, Kohno H, Fukuda H, Ochi N, Kawada H, Hayashi Y, Uraoka T (2004) Clinical impact of selective spasm provocation tests: comparisons between acetylcholine and ergonovine in 1508 examinations. Coron Artery Dis 15:491–497
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Teragawa, H., Chayama, K. (2009). Coronary Spasm. In: Lang, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_415
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_415
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67136-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29676-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences