title: Cardiac arrest related to coronary spasm in patients with variant angina: a three-case study.
abstract: We present three patients with variant angina pectoris and episodes of cardiac arrest. All of them had typical clinical symptoms, ST-segment changes in electrocardiogram, and coronary artery spasm confirmed by arteriography. They were treated with high doses of calcium antagonists and nitrates. An automatic cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted in the patient who developed ventricular fibrillation despite therapy with calcium antagonists. In another patient a DDD pacemaker was implanted because of high-degree atrioventricular block.
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013035:Spasm / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D009566:Nitrates; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004110:Diltiazem; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000638:Amiodarone; D001241:Aspirin