title: Coronary artery spasm and ventricular arrhythmias.
abstract: Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is characterised by chest pain at rest and transient ST segment elevation on the ECG. The natural history of variant angina is not fully understood. Patients with CAS are younger, mostly female subjects and usually do not have traditional cardiovascular risk factors other than cigarette smoking. Cardiac arrhythmias are known to be associated with CAS. Ventricular arrhythmia is a well-recognised complication and sudden cardiac death has also been documented. The most important diagnostic tool in CAS is coronary angiography. 24 h ECG Holter monitoring can be very useful in the diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias caused by CAS. The mainstay therapy for CAS is calcium channel blockers and nitrates. The use of β-blockers, especially the non-selective group, can promote attacks or prolong vasospastic state. The indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation in a patient with CAS is still not clearly established. The role of primary prevention with the use of ICD is controversial; however, ICD implantation should be considered in high risk patients despite optimal medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK. khangli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Khang Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Looi
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: Sharad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers