Need for documentation of guidelines for coronary artery spasm: an investigation by questionnaire in Japan.
BACKGROUND
Because there are no guidelines concerning coronary spasm in Japan, the present study examined the current status of the spasm provocation test.


RESULTS
Questionnaires concerning the number of cases of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, and invasive/non-invasive spasm provocation tests over 3 years (2001-2003) and the status of spasm provocation tests were sent to members of the Japanese Circulation Society in 120 cardiology hospitals in the Chugoku and Shikoku areas. Completed surveys were returned from 45 hospitals, giving a collection rate of 38%. As a spasm provocation agent, acetylcholine tests were performed in 29 hospitals, and ergonovine tests in 18 hospitals. Non-invasive spasm provocation tests were performed in only 9 hospitals (20%). In total, 5,267 patients underwent acetylcholine spasm provocation test (2,387 patients) or ergonovine spasm provocation test (2,880 patients) and vasospastic angina was diagnosed in 1,663 (2.4%) patients. Invasive spasm provocation tests were performed in 7.8% of patients with diagnostic catheterization and the spasm-positive rate was 31.6%. The difference among hospitals concerning the number of invasive spasm provocation tests was remarkable, and the angiographic spasm-positive standard and acetylcholine/ergonovine dose varied among the hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
Guidelines on coronary spasm in Japan are essential to overcome the current differences between institutions.
Sueda
Shozo
S
Department of Cardiology, Saiseikai Saijo Hospital, Saijo 793-0027, Japan. EZF03146@nifty.com
Izoe
Yousuke
Y
Kohno
Hiroaki
H
Fukuda
Hiroshi
H
Uraoka
Tadao
T
D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000175:diagnosis; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000592:standards; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires