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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Coronary artery spasms
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: Coronary artery spasms
by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on June 20, 1998 at 00:51:55:
In Reply to: Coronary artery spasms posted by Melba on June 19, 1998 at 14:39:15:
Two years ago at age 40, my RCA spasmed during a heart cath.Nitro S/L re-
lieved the pain.I was put on Procardia XL 30 mg daily.Six months ago I was
hospitalized for pain that Nitro S/L did not relieve.I received NitroIV
drip and repeated a Cardio-lyte Scan.The doctor said I have clean arteries
and diagnosed another spasm.He changed my meds to:ProcardiaXL 30 mg twice/
day and Imdur 30 mg twice/day,and 1 baby aspirin/day.He said no one dies
with coronary artery spasms and I may have other attacks but there
would be fewer as I age.He said just to relax and put a Nitro under my
tongue and when the pain goes away, get up and return to what I was doing.
Three nights ago,the pain returned.I took 3 Nitros before the pain went
away.Then I vomited.There is no way I could get up and continue doing any-
thing. I was sick.Is this typical of an attack?Is there any thing I can do
to prevent these?I do not smoke,drink alcohol or drink caffeine.I am over-
weight and do not exercise regularly.Is there any combination of meds to
prevent the spasms?Could I die with an attack?Thanks foryour help.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Melba,
Coronary artery spasm (also called variant or Prinzmetals angina) was originally described in 1959 by Prinzmetal and colleagues. This uncommon syndrome is found in approximately 2% to 3% of patients presenting with chest pain at large referral centers. The syndrome consists of chest pain at rest. ST changes during the pain and normal or near normal appearing coronary arteries found on angiogram. The spasm is usually confined to one vessel but may occur in several vessels at once. Although the angiogram appears normal there is actually some underlying coronary artery disease at the site of spasm. Heart attacks have been reported with coronary artery spasm and sudden death due to coronary spasm cannot be ruled out.
Multiple etiologies have been proposed for coronary artery spasm and these are outlined below:
1. The basal release of nitric oxide appears deficient in arteries where spasm occurs leading to the suggestion that basal nitric oxide synthetase may be a culprit.
2. Low levels of intracellular magnesium and therapeutic response to intravenous magnesium have led to the suggestion that it may be involved.
3. Low plasma levels of vitamin E in patients with active variant angina and improvement in symptoms when vitamin E is used supplementary to calcium channel blockers has been observed.
4. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are thought to be risk factors.
5. There is an increase of symptoms during sleep and in the early morning hours suggesting certain blood factors that vary with the day.
6. Hyperventilation, cigarette smoking cocaine use and withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal are known to precipitate coronary spasm.
Treatment for coronary artery spasm is with calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, etc) and nitrates (nitroglycerine). Potential side effects of calcium channel blockers are constipation, swelling in the legs and in some persons severe swelling in the mouth and throat. Nitroglycerin may cause headaches and could reduce blood pressure to the point that nausea and vomiting occurs.
Also important to treatment is risk factor modification such as cholesterol reduction, weight loss, quiting smoking and increasing exercise.
When symptoms are not responding to calcium channel blockers and nitrates the addition of vitamin E (300 mg a day) significantly reduced recurrent symptoms. Experimental evidence has shown benefit with cyproheptadine (a nonselective serotonergic antagonist) and this may be available in the future.
Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist.
In Reply to: Coronary artery spasms posted by Melba on June 19, 1998 at 14:39:15:
Two years ago at age 40, my RCA spasmed during a heart cath.Nitro S/L re-
lieved the pain.I was put on Procardia XL 30 mg daily.Six months ago I was
hospitalized for pain that Nitro S/L did not relieve.I received NitroIV
drip and repeated a Cardio-lyte Scan.The doctor said I have clean arteries
and diagnosed another spasm.He changed my meds to:ProcardiaXL 30 mg twice/
day and Imdur 30 mg twice/day,and 1 baby aspirin/day.He said no one dies
with coronary artery spasms and I may have other attacks but there
would be fewer as I age.He said just to relax and put a Nitro under my
tongue and when the pain goes away, get up and return to what I was doing.
Three nights ago,the pain returned.I took 3 Nitros before the pain went
away.Then I vomited.There is no way I could get up and continue doing any-
thing. I was sick.Is this typical of an attack?Is there any thing I can do
to prevent these?I do not smoke,drink alcohol or drink caffeine.I am over-
weight and do not exercise regularly.Is there any combination of meds to
prevent the spasms?Could I die with an attack?Thanks foryour help.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Melba,
Coronary artery spasm (also called variant or Prinzmetals angina) was originally described in 1959 by Prinzmetal and colleagues. This uncommon syndrome is found in approximately 2% to 3% of patients presenting with chest pain at large referral centers. The syndrome consists of chest pain at rest. ST changes during the pain and normal or near normal appearing coronary arteries found on angiogram. The spasm is usually confined to one vessel but may occur in several vessels at once. Although the angiogram appears normal there is actually some underlying coronary artery disease at the site of spasm. Heart attacks have been reported with coronary artery spasm and sudden death due to coronary spasm cannot be ruled out.
Multiple etiologies have been proposed for coronary artery spasm and these are outlined below:
1. The basal release of nitric oxide appears deficient in arteries where spasm occurs leading to the suggestion that basal nitric oxide synthetase may be a culprit.
2. Low levels of intracellular magnesium and therapeutic response to intravenous magnesium have led to the suggestion that it may be involved.
3. Low plasma levels of vitamin E in patients with active variant angina and improvement in symptoms when vitamin E is used supplementary to calcium channel blockers has been observed.
4. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are thought to be risk factors.
5. There is an increase of symptoms during sleep and in the early morning hours suggesting certain blood factors that vary with the day.
6. Hyperventilation, cigarette smoking cocaine use and withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal are known to precipitate coronary spasm.
Treatment for coronary artery spasm is with calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, etc) and nitrates (nitroglycerine). Potential side effects of calcium channel blockers are constipation, swelling in the legs and in some persons severe swelling in the mouth and throat. Nitroglycerin may cause headaches and could reduce blood pressure to the point that nausea and vomiting occurs.
Also important to treatment is risk factor modification such as cholesterol reduction, weight loss, quiting smoking and increasing exercise.
When symptoms are not responding to calcium channel blockers and nitrates the addition of vitamin E (300 mg a day) significantly reduced recurrent symptoms. Experimental evidence has shown benefit with cyproheptadine (a nonselective serotonergic antagonist) and this may be available in the future.
Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist.
