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First report of the successful use of bosentan in refractory vasospastic angina

Unni Krishnan1, Wutyee Win, Michael Fisher

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK. unni.krishnan@nhs.net

Cardiology
|April 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Variant angina, a coronary artery spasm condition, was effectively treated with the endothelin antagonist bosentan when other medications failed. Symptoms returned upon drug withdrawal, confirming bosentan

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Variant angina involves focal coronary artery spasm.
  • It is often linked to atherosclerotic coronary disease.

Observation:

  • A patient experienced severe, life-threatening variant angina.
  • Symptoms were refractory to standard anti-anginal treatments.

Findings:

  • The endothelin antagonist bosentan completely resolved the patient's symptoms.
  • Symptoms recurred upon inadvertent withdrawal of bosentan, confirming its efficacy.

Implications:

  • Endothelin antagonism may be a novel therapeutic strategy for refractory variant angina.
  • This case highlights the potential role of endothelin in coronary vasospasm.

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