Syndrome of Coronary Artery Spasm of Normal Coronary Arteries. Clinical and Angiographic Features

To define the clinical and angiographic features of the syndrome of spasm of angiographically normal coronary arteries, 77 patients with spasm and fixed coronary stenosis equal to or greater than 50% (group A) were compared with 35 patients with spasm and normal or minimally diseased coronary arteries (group B).Statistically significant differences between groups A and B were as follows: the incidence of rest angina (50.6% vs 85.7%; p<0.01) and mixed angina (32.5% vs 5.7%; p < 0.01); the appearance of ST segment depression (53.3% vs 16%; p < 0.01) and no electrocardiographic changes during stress test (35.6% vs 76%; p < 0.01); and the tendency for arteriographically documented spasm to be focal (87.5% vs 71.4%; p<0.05) and to affect only one vessel (76.6% vs 57.1%; p < 0.05). No differences were found between groups A and B in major coronary risk factors, history of previous myocardial infarction, electrocardiographic abnormalities at rest or during pain episodes, or arteries affected by spasm.Thus, angin...