Re: Coronary spasm

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on February 18, 1999 at 15:46:32:

In Reply to: Coronary spasm posted by Wendy on February 18, 1999 at 14:25:49:






Hello. I am a 44 year old female who is in good shape and who has virtually no risk
factors for heart disease. I have no other medical problems and never have. This past
weekend I had a mild heart attack. After many tests and an angiogram, it was concluded
that one of my coronary arteries had gone into a spasm for unknown reasons. The doctor
said he hoped that his arteries looked as good as mine did on the angiogram. Luckily, I
had gotten to the hospital in time so that the damage to my heart was minimal and I should
make a complete recovery. My doctor put me on two medications, Metoprolol XL and
Amlodipine as well as an aspirin once a day. The only possible explanation for the episode
is that my iron level was low at 10 but I was told that may have nothing to do with it
either.  I also now take iron to boost that level. In your opinion, what are my chances of
having another attack of this sort and will I have to be on these medications for the rest of
my life? When I asked my doctor those two questions he really didnt have an answer for
me. Any light you could put on this for me would be greatly appreciated.




Dear Wendy
I am not sure that you definitely had spasm. If you did, amlodipine is a good medicine, though metoprolol would not necessarily be. Spasm, if you have it, is much less likely to recur on medicines like amlodipine. Coronary artery spasm used to be much more common before the development of medicines like amlodipine.
Low iron should be treated, but it does not cause spasm.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.