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[Variant angina mimicking right ventricular infarction--a case report]
Piotr Kukla1, Teresa Słowiak-Lewińska, Barbara Hajduk
1Oddział Wewnetrzny, Szpital Specjalistycznego w Gorlicach, ul. Wegierska 21, 38-300 Gorlice, Poland.
Kardiologia Polska
|April 15, 2005
Summary
This case study highlights a patient with recurrent angina, ST-segment elevation, and heart block. Effective treatment was achieved using calcium channel blockers, despite normal coronary angiography results.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Variant angina, also known as Prinzmetal's angina, is a condition characterized by coronary artery spasms.
- It can present with ST-segment elevation and may lead to serious cardiac events.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old male experienced recurrent angina with ST-segment elevation in specific ECG leads (II, III, aVF, V4R-V6R).
- The patient also presented with cardiogenic shock and complete atrio-ventricular block.
- Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries, ruling out obstructive coronary artery disease.
Findings:
- Despite normal angiography, the patient's symptoms were attributed to variant angina.
- Therapy with calcium channel blockers proved effective in managing the recurrent angina and associated cardiac complications.
- The case underscores the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in managing variant angina.
Implications:
- This case emphasizes the importance of considering variant angina in patients with angina and ST-segment elevation, even with normal coronary angiography.
- Calcium channel blockers are a viable and effective treatment option for variant angina.
- Further research into the management of complex variant angina cases is warranted.