title: Long-term prognosis of medically treated patients with vasospastic angina and no fixed significant coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: The clinical course of 48 consecutive patients with vasospastic angina and minor coronary atherosclerosis (no stenoses greater than 50%) was analyzed during an average follow-up period of 47 months. The study group consisted of 37 men and 11 women. Patients were treated with usual doses of calcium antagonists. One patient died (2%) and three had myocardial infarctions (6%). Seventy-one percent were asymptomatic or had infrequent angina; 13% had recurrences but had periods of remission lasting at least 10 months. Only 16% had persistent angina. None of the clinical or angiographic findings at the time of diagnosis were predictive of myocardial infarction or death, and they could not separate angina-free patients from those with recurrences. Thus, vasospastic angina without fixed coronary narrowing has a good prognosis despite the possibility of recurrences. However, there is a slight risk of myocardial infarction and death. This fact should be considered if there are plans to discontinue treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centre Cardiologique du Nord, Saint-Denis, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benacerraf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hennetier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Achard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications*; D003645:Death, Sudden; D004874:Ergonovine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004874:Ergonovine