Another look at Prinzmetal's variant angina.

Prinzmetal's variant angina is commonly referred to as a syndrome apart from the usual spectrum of atherosclerotic disease. 2 well-studied patients with this form of angina gave past histories compatible with classical angina. They were found to have, in addition to severe atheromatous lesions, coronary artery spasm resulting in complete obstruction of the vessel during Prinzmetal attacks. The concomitant electrocardiographic ST segment elevations are probably the reflection of transmural ischemia injury resulting from the transient complete occlusion of the corresponding coronary artery. Electrocardiograms taken during milder resting anginal attacks showed minimal nonspecific changes of the electrocardiogram or T wave inversions which may possibly reflect less severe ischemia, secondary to milder coronary spasm. These observations support the possibility that at least in some cases, Prinzmetal's angina may just be a phase in the life history of patients with atherosclerotic disease, during which recurrent severe coronary spasms may occur.