Do changes in intracoronary pressure aid coronary spasm diagnosis using the spasm provocation test?

BACKGROUND Although the spasm provocation test(SPT)can diagnose coronary spasms,it would be helpful if it could also predict their occurrence.AIM To investigate whether coronary spasms can be predicted using changes in intracoronary artery pressure measured using a pressure wire during the SPT.METHODS Seventy patients underwent SPTs with pressure-wire measurement of intracoronary artery pressure.During each SPT,the pressure wire was advanced into the distal portion of the right coronary artery(RCA)and left anterior descending coronary artery,and the ratio of intracoronary pressure to aortic pressure(Pd/Pa)was monitored.Coronary spasm was defined as an arterial narrowing of>90%in response to the administration of acetylcholine(ACh),with chest symptoms and/or ischemic electrocardiographic changes.ACh was administered to the RCA at low,moderate,or high doses of 20,50,or 80μg,respectively,and to the left coronary artery(LCA)at low,moderate,or high doses of 50,100,or 200μg,respectively.Coronary arteries with coronary spasms at low doses of ACh were defined as group L,and those with coronary spasms at moderate or high doses were defined as group MH.Those who did not occur coronary spasms at any ACh dose were designated as group N.RESULTS Among the 132 coronary arteries assessed using a pressure wire,there were 49 in group N,25 in group L,and 58 in group MH.Baseline Pd/Pa was the lowest in group L(P=0.001).The decrease in the Pd/Pa between baseline to low doses of ACh was lower in group MH than in group N(P<0.001).A receiver-operating characteristics analysis showed that the cutoff baseline Pd/Pa value for predicting group L was 0.95,with a sensitivity of 0.600(15/25)and a specificity of 0.713(76/107)and that the cutoff value of Pd/Pa from baseline to low doses of ACh for predicting group MH was−0.04,with a sensitivity of 0.741(43/58)and a specificity of 0.694(34/49).CONCLUSION These findings suggest that indices of intracoronary pressure during SPT may be useful means for predicting the occurrence of coronary spasms.

Does the intracoronary pressure differ according to two types(diffuse or focal)of coronary spasm?

BACKGROUND Several reports show that two types of coronary vasospasm(diffuse and focal spasm)are associated with the severity or prognosis of coronary spasm in patients with vasospastic angina(VSA).It is unclear whether intracoronary pressure differs between the two spasm types.AIM To investigate such relationships using a pressure wire during the spasm provocation test(SPT)in patients with VSA.METHODS Eighty-seven patients with VSA(average age:67 years;50 men,37 women)underwent SPT.During the SPT,a pressure wire was advanced into the distal portion of the right coronary artery and left anterior descending coronary artery,and the ratio of the intracoronary pressure to the aortic pressure(Pd/Pa)was continuously monitored.An SPT was performed using acetylcholine(ACh),and the presence of coronary spasm was defined as the presence of>90%arterial narrowing in response to an ACh infusion,with the usual chest symptoms and/or ischemic ECG changes.Focal spasm was defined as total or subtotal spasm within one segment of the AHA classification,while diffuse spasm was defined as>90%spasm with two or more segments.RESULTS Among 87 patients,the frequencies of metabolic syndrome and having coronary atherosclerosis were higher in the focal group(n=33)than in the diffuse spasm group(n=54,P<0.05).In the vessel analyses,in these 134 spastic segments,diffuse and focal spasms were detected in 100 and 34 vessels,respectively.The Pd/Pa at baseline was similar in both groups(diffuse:0.96±0.05,focal:0.95±0.05,P=0.35);however,the Pd/Pa during coronary spasm was lower in focal spastic vessels(0.66±0.20)than in diffuse spastic vessels(0.76±0.11,P<0.01),and the reduction in Pd/Pa during an SPT was also lower in focal spastic vessels(-0.29±0.20)than in diffuse spastic vessels(-0.18±0.11,P<0.01).The presence of focal spasm was a significant factor responsible for reduction in Pd/Pa during SPT.CONCLUSION These findings suggest that focal spasm may be more severe than diffuse spasm,judging from the intracoronary pressure during coronary spasm.

Vasospastic angina in women: Clinical backgrounds and prognoses of patients younger than and older than 60 years

BACKGROUND We frequently encounter cases of women with vasospastic angina(VSA).Additionally,some women with VSA are younger than 60 years old.However,it is unknown whether the characteristics of VSA in women aged<60 years are different from those in women aged≥60 years.AIM To investigate and compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of VSA in women aged<60 years from those in women aged≥60 years.METHODS We enrolled 94 women with VSA who were diagnosed using the spasm provocation test.According to the age at diagnosis,the patients were divided into two groups:Group Y(age<60 years,n=17)and Group O(age≥60 years,n=77).Flow-mediated dilation(FMD)and nitroglycerin(NTG)-induced dilation(NID)of the brachial artery were performed and assessed using brachial ultrasonography.Moreover,conventional coronary risk factors,such as atherosclerotic lesions(stenosis>20%)detected using coronary angiography and focal spasms(coronary spasm within one segment of one coronary artery),and major cardiovascular adverse events(MACE)were assessed in both groups.RESULTS Smoking was more prevalent in Group Y than in Group O(P=0.04).FMD was similar in both groups(Group O:4.3%±3.2%,Group Y:4.5%±3.3%;P=0.75),whereas NID was higher in Group Y(20.5%±8.6%)than in Group O(13.6%±5.3%,P<0.01).Atherosclerosis was not detected in Group Y but was detected in Group O(61%,P<0.01).Focal spasms were less frequent in Group Y(12%)than in Group O(38%,P=0.04).The incidence of major adverse cardiac events did not differ between the two groups(P=0.40).CONCLUSIONWomen aged < 60 years with VSA have less atherosclerotic lesions and focal spasms. These characteristicsmay be affected by smoking habits and vascular smooth muscle dysfunction.

Coronary spasm: It's common, but it's still unsolved

Coronary spasm is caused by a transient coronary nar -rowing due to the constriction of epicardial coronary artery, which leads to myocardial ischemia. More than 50 years have passed since the first recognition of coronary spasm, and many findings on coronary spasm have been reported. Coronary spasm has been considered as having pivotal roles in the cause of not only rest angina but also exertional angina, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure. In addition, several new findings of the mechanism of coronary spasm have emerged recently. The diagnosis based mainly on coronary angiography and spasm provo-cation test and the mainstream treatment with a focus on a calcium-channel blocker have been established. At a glance, coronary spasm or vasospastic angina(VSA) has become a common disease. On the contrary, there are several uncertain or unsolved problems regarding coronary spasm, including the presence of medically refractory coronary spasm(intractable VSA), or an appropriate use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator in patients with cardiac arrest who have been confirmed as having coronary spasm. This editorial focused on coronary spasm, including recent topics and unsolved problems.

Increased frequency of angina attacks caused by switching a brand-name vasodilator to a generic vasodilator in patients with vasospastic angina:Two case reports

It is well known that calcium channel blockers(CCBs) are the first line of therapy for vasospastic angina(VSA). Here, we report two cases of VSA with an increase in the frequency of angina attacks after switching from a brand-name to a generic CCB. In both cases, angina recurred upon switching from a brand-name CCB to a generic CCB during follow-up. The patients' condition improved upon switching back to the original CCB. Both cases involved a high severity of VSA, based on the results of spasm provocation testing. These findings suggest that, in some patients with severe VSA, the frequency of angina attacks increases when switching from a brand-name CCB to a generic CCB. Cardiologists should consider this factor when prescribing drugs for angina.

Primary aldosteronism due to bilateral micronodular hyperplasia and concomitant subclinical Cushing’s syndrome:A case report

BACKGROUND Adrenal incidentaloma(AI)has been frequently encountered in the clinical setting.It has been shown that primary aldosteronism(PA)or subclinical Cushing’s syndrome(SCS)are the representative causative diseases of AI.However,the coexistence of PA and SCS has been reportedly observed.Recently,we encountered a case of AI,in which PA and SCS coexisted,confirmed by histopathological examinations after a laparoscopic adrenalectomy.We believe that there were some clinical implications in the diagnosis of the present case.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old man presented with lower right abdominal pain with a blood pressure of 170/100 mmHg.A subsequent computed tomography scan revealed right ureterolithiasis,which was the cause of right abdominal pain,and right AI measuring 22 mm×25 mm.After the disappearance of right abdominal pain,subsequent endocrinological examinations were performed.Aldosterone-related evaluations,including adrenal venous sampling,revealed the presence of bilateral PA.In addition,several cortisol-related evaluations showed the presence of SCS on the right adrenal adenoma.A laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was then performed.The histopathological examination of the resected right adrenal revealed the presence of a cortisol-producing adenoma,while CYP11B2 immunoreactivity was absent in this adenoma.However,in the adjacent nonneoplastic adrenal,multiple CYP11B2-positive adrenocortical micronodules were detected,showing the presence of aldosterone-producing adrenocortical micronodules.CONCLUSION Careful clinical and pathological examination should be performed when a patient harboring AI presents with concomitant SCS and PA.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma with difficult antemortem diagnosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma(PMPM)is an extremely rare malignant tumor,and it is difficult to diagnose definitively before death.We present a case in which PMPM was diagnosed at autopsy.We consider this case to be highly suggestive and report it here.CASE SUMMARY A 78-year-old male presented with transient loss of consciousness and falls.The transient loss of consciousness was considered to result from complications of diastolic dysfunction due to pericardial disease,fever with dehydration,and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.Ultrasound cardiography(UCG)and computed tomography showed cardiac enlargement and high-density pericardial effusion.We considered pericardial disease to be the main pathogenesis of this case.Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and gadolinium contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed thick staining inside and outside the pericardium.Pericardial biopsy was considered to establish a definitive diagnosis,but the patient and his family refused further treatment and examinations,and the patient was followed conservatively.We noticed a thickening of the pericardium and massive changes in the pericardium on UCG over time.We performed an autopsy 60 h after the patient died of pneumonia.Giemsa staining of the autopsy tissue showed an epithelial-like arrangement in the pericardial tumor,and immunostaining showed positive and negative factors for the diagnosis of PMPM.Based on these findings,the final diagnosis of PMPM was made.CONCLUSION PMPM has a poor prognosis,and early diagnosis and treatment are important.The temporal echocardiographic findings may provide a clue for the diagnosis of PMPM.

Clinical significance of prolonged chest pain in vasospastic angina

BACKGROUND Patients with vasospastic angina(VSA)sometimes experience prolonged chest symptoms.The clinical characteristics of these patients have not been clarified.AIM To investigate the clinical characteristics of prolonged VSA patients.METHODS This study included 167 patients with VSA diagnosed by spasm provocation tests(SPTs)using acetylcholine,which recorded the frequencies of positive reactions to a low dose of acetylcholine(L-ACh),total occlusion due to spasm(TOC),focal spasm,and the unavoidable use of nitroglycerin(unavoidable-NTG)during SPTs.The patients underwent a medical interview that investigated the maximum duration and frequency of chest symptoms as well as the frequencies of variant angina and other serious symptoms.The patients were divided into two groups based on the maximal duration:The short-duration group(<15 min;n=114)and the long-duration group(≥15 min;n=53).They were also divided into two groups based on the frequency of chest symptoms:The low-frequency group(<4/mo;n=88)and the high-frequency group(≥4/mo;n=79).RESULTS The long-duration group showed higher frequencies of other serious symptoms(P<0.001)and variant angina(P<0.05)as well as higher frequencies of spasm induction by L-ACh(P<0.05),TOC(P<0.05),focal spasm(P<0.01),and unavoidable-NTG(P<0.01)than the short-duration group.These parameters did not differ significantly between the low-frequency and high-frequency groups.CONCLUSION These findings suggest that patients with VSA who experience prolonged chest symptoms may have more severe characteristics of VSA.