Coronary artery spasm

Alternative names:

variant angina

Symptoms:

• chest pain, angina type
  • under the sternum
  • described as squeezing, constricting, tightness, pressure, crushing
  • may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulder, arm
  • may occur at rest
  • may occur at the same time each day
  • pain lasts from 5 to 30 minutes
  • pain is relieved by nitroglycerin - sublingual

Signs and tests:

An examination is usually inconclusive but may indicate atherosclerosis. A coronary angiography shows spasm when the artery is injected with ergonovine. An ECG may show ischemic changes during chest pain, and it may show arrhythmias or conduction defects. Tests may be done to rule out fixed lesions such as clot or atherosclerosis as the cause of chest pain.