title: Clinical characteristics associated with myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and sudden death in patients with vasospastic angina.
abstract: A total of 349 patients with vasospastic angina were followed in eight centers in Japan for a period of 3.4 +/- 0.1 years (mean +/- SE). Ninety-eight percent of patients were treated with calcium blockers. Twenty-one episodes of myocardial infarction occurred in 18 patients (5%), including two fatal myocardial infarctions. The rate of myocardial infarction was higher (p less than .01) in patients with a fixed stenosis of 90% or greater than in patients with a fixed stenosis of less than 90% or normal coronary arteries. Myocardial infarctions occurred predominantly during hospital stays or at a time when the frequency of vasospastic angina increased. There were five sudden deaths (2%). Only one patient suffering sudden death had a fixed stenosis of 75% or greater. Serious arrhythmias were noted in 49 patients (14%). The risk of arrhythmias did not depend on the presence of a fixed stenosis of 75% or greater. These results suggest that cardiac events are rather infrequent in Japanese patients with vasospastic angina who are receiving treatment with calcium blockers and that the presence of a severe fixed stenosis markedly increases the risk of myocardial infarction but not the risk of arrhythmias.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents