title: Endothelial function and coronary spastic angina.
abstract: Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of not only variant angina but also coronary heart disease in general including acute coronary syndromes, especially in the Japanese population. The vascular endothelium has been reported to be a multifunctional organ whose integrity is essential for normal vascular physiology. Vascular endothelial dysfunction can be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease. Acetylcholine and methacholine cause vasodilation by endothelium-derived relaxing factor when the endothelium is functioning normally, whereas they cause vasoconstriction when the endothelium is removed or damaged. Coronary spasm can be induced by a variety of stimuli with different mechanisms of action, including acetylcholine and methacholine. Patients with coronary spasm may have a disturbance in endothelial function as well as local hyperreactivity of the coronary arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology