title: Syncope caused by coronary artery spasm without chest pain leading to ventricular fibrillation.
abstract: We present a case of syncope caused by coronary artery spasm without chest pain leading to ventricular fibrillation despite of vasodilator therapy with a calcium channel blocker (CCB). A 68-year-old man presented with two episodes of syncope without chest pain. Ergonovine provocation test induced a diffuse spasm in the right coronary artery (RCA) and subsequently, ventricular fibrillation. Under the therapy with multiple vasodilators including two CCBs, a second ergonovine provocation induced a spasm of the proximal RCA resulting in complete obstruction. Owing to drug-resistant coronary spasm complicated by ventricular fibrillation, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted. This case report highlights the occurrence of syncope caused by coronary artery spasm without chest pain that was refractory to single CCB therapy and needed ICD implantation. Therapy with multiple vasodilators, including two or more CCBs, along with ICD implantation may be required to treat such refractory coronary artery spasms leading to lethal arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, The Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minamino
authors.forename: Moriaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy