title: The mystery of coronary artery spasm.
abstract: Coronary artery spasm is an important cause of chest pain and myocardial ischaemia. It can be defined as an exaggerated contractile response of epicardial coronary artery smooth muscle to various stimuli but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Recent studies have shown that the loss of endothelial vasodilatory function in conjunction with an increase in vascular smooth muscle constrictor sensitivity to calcium are the likely predisposing conditions for coronary spasm. This review highlights current understanding of the pathophysiology, predisposing factors, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for coronary spasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. andrew.ajani@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ajani
authors.forename: Bryan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents