Unstable angina
Alternative names:
accelerating angina; angina - unstable; new-onset angina;
progressive angina
Symptoms:
Typical anginal pain usually originates in the chest and
may radiate to shoulder, arm, jaw, neck, back or other areas.
The pain is often described as tightness, squeezing, crushing,
burning, choking, or aching. Unstable angina is differentiated
from stable angina in that the pain may:
- Occur at rest,
- Be new onset or last longer than previous anginal attacks,
- Be less responsive to medication.
In other words, if a pattern of stable
angina has been present previously, the development of unstable
angina may be signified by a change in the pattern, frequency,
or severity.
Signs and tests:
- Physical examination
may reveal a change in blood
pressure. Transient heart murmur or arrhythmias
(irregular heart beats) may occur.
ECG changes that occur
at rest, during pain, is often diagnostic.
Heart scans or coronary
angiography of the heart are often performed.
- ·Echocardiography may reveal changes in the heart caused
by decreased coronary blood flow.
- Blood tests such as CPK, CPK-MB, Troponin I, and Troponin
T are used to diagnose unstable angina and can predict likelihood
of progression to heart attack.
Updated Date: 06/22/00
Updated by: David H. Stern, MD Chief Medical
Resident, University of Pennsylvania Hospital, VeriMed Healthcare
Network
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