[Prinzmetal's angina. Response to the treatment with reserpine. Review of its physiopathological mechanisms].

A case of Prinzmetal angina refractory to classic medical treatment, in which the angina attacks were suppressed with the administration qf reserpine is presented. The possible physiopathologic mecanisms of this entity are reviewed. The possibility of coronary spasm due to an alteration in the regulation of the coronary arterial tone from an autonomic.nervous system illness is established, an abnormal coronary vascular reactivity is also reviewed. It is emphasized that the Prinzmetal angina is an original entity, idfferent from the coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease, which may coexist with it but which cannot be treated in the same way, because its physiopathologic mecanisms are different.