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Coronary spasm reflects inputs from adjacent esophageal system.
Olivia Manfrini1, Gabriele Bazzocchi, Alessandra Luati
1Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Cardioangiologia, Epatologia, Università degli studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology
|January 3, 2006
Summary
Esophageal spasms can trigger coronary spasms in patients with variant angina, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between these conditions. This finding sheds light on the poorly understood mechanisms of coronary spasm.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
Background:
- Coronary spasm mechanisms remain unclear.
- Nocturnal angina patients are susceptible to cardiac events.
- The link between esophageal and coronary systems is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if esophageal system activity influences coronary spasm.
- To investigate the relationship between esophageal spasms and variant angina.
- To analyze concurrent ECG and esophageal manometry data.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 7 variant angina and 5 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.
- Utilized concurrent ECG and esophageal manometry.
- Applied time series and transfer function analysis.
Main Results:
- Esophageal spasms were significantly more frequent in variant angina patients (143 vs. 20).
- Esophageal spasms temporally correlated with ischemia in variant angina patients.
- A bidirectional causal relationship was found between esophageal and coronary spasms in variant angina.
Conclusions:
- Esophageal spasms and myocardial ischemia mutually influence each other in variant angina.
- Esophageal spasm mechanisms may precipitate coronary spasm.
- Coronary spasm can exacerbate esophageal spasm episodes.