Vagal nerve-mediated vasospasm-induced lethal ventricular fibrillation.
We report a case of variant angina complicated by lethal ventricular fibrillation. Serial ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring revealed high-frequency spectra reflecting augmented vagal nerve activity preceding the vasospastic episodes. Our case suggests that heart rate variability analysis can help identify potential unexpected sudden cardiac death in patients with variant angina.
Division of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Saitama 359-8513, Japan. bonpeit@me.ndmc.ac.jp
Bonpei
B
Takase
Ryuichi
R
Kato
Ko
K
Arakawa
Fumitaka
F
Ohsuzu
Masayuki
M
Ishihara
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014630:Vagus Nerve; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*