Coronary artery spasm

Alternative names:

variant angina

Definition:

A temporary contraction of the muscles in the wall of an artery in the heart, making the artery constrict and slowing or stopping blood flow through the artery during the spasm.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Coronary artery spasm is a cause of ischemia (inadequate oxygen levels) of the heart. It affects approximately 4 out of 100,000 people. The arteries affected may be normal or they may be "hardened" (atherosclerotic). Spasm may be "silent"--without symptoms--or it may result in stable angina or unstable angina pain. Prolonged spasm may even cause heart attack.

Coronary artery spasm may occur spontaneously, or it may be caused by exposure to cold, emotional stress, or vasoconstricting medications. Cocaine use can cause severe spasm of the arteries while at the same time increasing the energy requirements of the heart. Variant angina is a syndrome, probably involving coronary artery spasm, where the angina pain does not have the usual triggering activities. It most often affects women under 50.