title: Multifocal severe coronary artery vasospasm mistaken for diffuse atherosclerosis: a case report.
abstract: Spontaneous severe multivessel coronary artery vasospasm is a rare but important cause of morbidity. One-third of patients have normal coronary vasculature, and these pose a significant therapeutic dilemma as lack of clinical suspicion might potentially lead to unnecessary revascularization therapies. A patient with resting chest pain and ischaemic electrocardiography demonstrated severe coronary obstruction at catheter angiography. Preangioplasty further information highlighted spasm as the likely cause and the angiographic abnormalities resolved post intracoronary nitrate. This paper emphasises thorough history-taking and judicious use of nitrates during diagnostic coronary angiography in such patients. This may negate the need for more complex cardiac interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Sarfraz Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.forename: Sheraz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ilsley