The inducibility of coronary artery spasm after successful PTCA

An ergonovine test (0.2 mg ergonovine i.v.) was performed on 32 consecutive patients showing a good long-term result 3 to 6 months after successful PTCA. In seven patients (22%) a significant spasm could be induced. Six of the seven patients complained of atypical chest pain as compared to two of 25 patients with a negative test. This difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). These results implicate that a higher vasomotor tone at the site of previous stenosis is responsible for atypical chest pain in patients after successful PTCA and good angiographic long-term follow-up. The application of long-term nifedipine and nitroglycerin in this patient group seems to be indicated.