Late follow-up (41 to 102 months) of medically treated patients with coronary artery spasm and minor atherosclerotic coronary obstructions.
From a series of 37 patients with coronary artery spasm and less than 70% diameter narrowing treated initially with verapamil and nitrates, 33 were followed up 41 to 102 months (mean 62). One patient died from carcinoma of the lung and 3 could not be traced. Before diagnosis, 3 had nontransmural myocardial infarction and 10 had either ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation or atrioventricular block. During follow-up there were no cardiac deaths or myocardial infarctions. Asymptomatic periods of more than 3 months occurred in 23 patients during follow-up: 18 with asymptomatic periods of more than 1 year were pain free at the time of study and 5 with asymptomatic periods of 3 to 6 months had infrequent pain. Ten patients had no asymptomatic periods. Symptomatic status at last review was related to initial response to therapy: 13 of 18 patients (72%) currently asymptomatic became asymptomatic with initial therapy compared with 5 of 15 patients (33%) currently experiencing pain (p = 0.06). Twenty-six patients were currently receiving therapy: 22 verapamil, 80 to 640 mg/day (mean 280), 2 nifedipine, 1 diltiazem and amiodarone and 1 isosorbide (15 were receiving additional isosorbide). Twelve patients were not receiving therapy or were receiving very low dosage therapy, including 8 with asymptomatic periods of more than 1 year. Patients with coronary spasm and less than 70% diameter narrowing treated medically have low mortality and morbidity rates over 5-year follow-up. Many have long asymptomatic periods and some may be able to stop therapy indefinitely.
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014700:Verapamil; D009543:Nifedipine