[Diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis mimicking dilated cardiomyopathy with multi-vessel coronary vasospasm]

We investigated 7 patients with multi-vessel coronary vasospasm (> or = 75%) and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis by coronary angiography and echocardiography. Four patients were male and 3 were female and mean +/- SD age was 63.0 +/- 11.2 years. Chief complaints were dyspnea in 3 patients, and chest pain, appetite loss, palpitation and general fatigue in one each. New York Heart Association functional classification was I in one patient, II in 5 and III in one. Mean heart rate was 73.9 +/- 11.6 beats/min. Initial echocardiography showed left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) 54.4 +/- 5.5 mm, left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDs) 43.7 +/- 4.8 mm and percentage fractional shortening (%FS) 19.7 +/- 2.6%. The left ventricle was not remarkably enlarged despite poor contraction. Coronary vasospasm was induced after acetylcholine injection into the right coronary artery in 6 patients, left anterior descending artery in 7 and circumflex artery in 5. Four patients developed three-vessel coronary vasospasm. Three patients underwent endomyocardial biopsy which showed non-specific mild fibrosis. They were treated with nitrates and/or Ca-antagonists to prevent coronary vasospasm. Follow-up echocardiography was performed in 6 patients after 8.5 +/- 6.6 months. Echocardiography revealed marked improvement in left ventricular contraction (LVDd 49.7 +/- 4.6 mm, LVDs 35.8 +/- 4.4 mm, p < 0.05; %FS 27.9 +/- 4.5%, p < 0.05). These data suggested that left ventricular dilation was not prominent despite the poor contractility in patients with multi-vessel coronary vasospasm and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis. The left ventricular dysfunction might be hibernating myocardium produced by multiple episodes of coronary vasospasm. Anti-vasospastic agents were effective in these patients.