Recurrent catheter-induced coronary artery spasm

Catheter-induced spasm has generally been considered to represent an iatrogenic phenomenon without important clinical significance. This report describes two patients who developed catheter-induced spasm in the proximal segment of the right coronary artery in separate studies performed in different laboratories by means of different catheter techniques. One of these patients developed right coronary spasm on three occasions and, in addition, developed catheter-induced spasm of the left main trunk during two different studies. These observations would add support to the hypothesis that a predisposition to coronary artery spasm may exist in certain individiuals. Catheter-induced spasm deserves attention, since it may provide a means of identifying spasm-prone individuals.