Coronary spasm masquerading as progressive exertional angina with normal coronaries

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Typical angina pectoris is often attributed to atherosclerosis.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary cause of exertional angina.

Observation:

• This case report details a patient presenting with typical exertional angina.
• Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries, ruling out significant obstructive CAD.

Findings:

• The patient's symptoms were attributed to chronic focal vasospasm of the coronary arteries.
• Vasospasm, or the sudden constriction of blood vessels, was identified as the underlying cause.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering vasospasm in the differential diagnosis of angina, especially with normal coronaries.
• Suggests specific diagnostic approaches for patients with angina and unobstructed coronary arteries.
• Emphasizes the role of vasospasm in typical angina presentation.