Tag Archives: coronary vasospasm

Introduction Coronary artery spasm (CAS), or Prinzmetal angina, is an increasingly recognised cause of myocardial ischaemia in non-obstructed coronary arteries. It typically presents with anginal chest pain.1 It is rarely associated with myocardial infarction and symptomatic arrythmias.2 It occurs primarily at rest, most commonly in the morning,1,3 and is mostly observed in 40–70-year-old males.4 Prevalence varies by ethnicity, with Japanese ethnicity most strongly linked.5 Atherosclerotic coronary stenosis is an independent risk factor for CAS; more diseased vessels have a higher tendency to spasm in ergonovine provocation testing.6 We des

Introduction Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is characterised by a transient left ventricular dysfunction, which is classically accompanied by left ventricular apical ballooning and akinesis.1,2 The condition predominantly affects post-menopausal women and involves a neuro-cardiac action often triggered by an emotional or physical stressor.2 While the pathophysiology is not completely understood, postulated mechanisms include catecholamine excess,3 and microvascular dysfunction.4 Case A previously well 71-year-old woman was admitted to hospital via ambulance with sudden-onset angina radiating to the left shoulder and jaw, along with dyspnoea.