Catheter-induced spasm during spontaneous attack of variant angina.

The simultaneous occurrences of spontaneous spasm and catheter-induced spasm during coronary angiography were obtained in 3 patients. Catheter-induced spasm was seen in the right coronary artery in 3 patients: 1 patient had spontaneous spasm in the distal right coronary artery and 2 patients had spontaneous spasm in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. These findings suggest that patients with variant angina may be susceptible to mechanical induction of spasm.