OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic validity of coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) in vasospastic angina (VA) and factors associated with discrepant results between invasive coronary angiography with the ergonovine provocation test (iCAG-EPT) and cCTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 1397 patients diagnosed with VA from 2006 to 2016, 33 patients (75 lesions) with available cCTA data from within 6 months before iCAG-EPT were included. The severity of spasm (% diameter stenosis [%DS]) on iCAG-EPT and cCTA was assessed, and the difference in %DS (Δ%DS) was calculated. Δ%DS was compared after classifying the lesions according to pre-cCTA-administered sublingual nitroglycerin (SL-NG) or beta-blockers. The lesions were further categorized with %DS ≥ 50% on iCAG-EPT or cCTA defined as a significant spasm, and the diagnostic performance of cCTA on identifying significant spasm relative to iCAG-EPT was assessed. RESULTS: Compared to lesions without SL-NG treatment, those with SL-NG treatment showed a higher Δ%DS (39.2% vs. 22.1%, p = 0.002). However, there was no difference in Δ%DS with or without beta-blocker treatment (35.1% vs. 32.6%, p = 0.643). The significant difference in Δ%DS associated with SL-NG was more prominent in patients who were aged < 60 years, were male, had body mass index < 25 kg/m2, and had no history of hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Based on iCAG-EPT as the reference, the per-lesion-based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of cCTA for VA diagnosis were 7.5%, 94.0%, 60.0%, 47.1%, and 48.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients with clinically suspected VA, confirmation with iCAG-EPT needs to be considered without completely excluding the diagnosis of VA simply based on cCTA results, although further prospective studies are required for confirmation.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Angiography ; Body Mass Index ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Dyslipidemias ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Nitroglycerin ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spasm

No abstract available.
Echocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ergonovine stress echocardiography (ErgECHO) has been proposed as a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of coronary vasospasm. However, concern over the safety of ErgECHO remains. This study was undertaken to investigate the safety and prognostic value of ErgECHO in a large population. METHODS: We studied 3,094 consecutive patients from a single-center registry who underwent ErgECHO from November 2002 to June 2009. Medical records, echocardiographic data, and laboratory findings obtained from follow-up periods were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of ErgECHO was 8.6%. No procedure-related mortality or myocardial infarction (MI) occurred. Nineteen patients (0.6%) had transient symptomatic complications during ErgECHO including one who was successfully resuscitated. Cumulative major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) occurred in 14.0% and 5.1% of the patients with positive and negative ErgECHO results, respectively (p < 0.001) at a median follow-up of 10.5 years. Cox regression survival analyses revealed that male sex, age, presence of diabetes, total cholesterol level of >220 mg/dL, and positive ErgECHO result itself were independent factors associated with MACEs. CONCLUSIONS: ErgECHO can be performed safely by experienced physicians and its positive result may be an independent risk factor for long-term adverse outcomes. It may also be an alternative tool to invasive ergonovine-provoked coronary angiography for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina.
Cholesterol ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Ergonovine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

A 68-year-old man was admitted for a syncope workup. After routine evaluation, he was diagnosed with syncope of an unknown cause and was discharged from the hospital. He was readmitted due to dizziness. On repeated Holter monitoring, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia was detected during syncope. We performed intracoronary ergonovine provocation test; severe coronary spasm was induced at 70% stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery. The patient was treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. We present a rare case of syncope induced by ventricular arrhythmia in a patient with variant angina without chest pain.
Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Chest Pain* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Spasm ; Syncope* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular* ; Thorax*

A 68-year-old man was admitted for a syncope workup. After routine evaluation, he was diagnosed with syncope of an unknown cause and was discharged from the hospital. He was readmitted due to dizziness. On repeated Holter monitoring, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia was detected during syncope. We performed intracoronary ergonovine provocation test; severe coronary spasm was induced at 70% stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery. The patient was treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. We present a rare case of syncope induced by ventricular arrhythmia in a patient with variant angina without chest pain.
Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Chest Pain* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Spasm ; Syncope* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular* ; Thorax*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with endothelial dysfunction and impaired coronary flow reserve. However, the effect of subclinical hypothyroidism or thyroid autoimmunity on variant angina has yet to be determined. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Among 385 consecutive patients without associated cardiovascular risk factors who underwent coronary angiography with the ergonovine provocation test (EPT), 165 had a positive EPT {EPT(+)} and 220 had a negative EPT {EPT(-)}. The relationship between coronary artery spasm and the presence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction as well as serum thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPO Ab) was evaluated. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism among those who were EPT(+) was significantly higher than that in those who were EPT(-) (18% vs. 11%, p=0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism between the groups. Moreover, EPT(+) patients showed significantly more positive TPO Ab (33% vs. 14%, p<0.001) than those with EPT(-). There was a positive correlation between EPT(+) and TPO positivity (r=0.226, p<0.001), subclinical hypothyroidism (r=0.112, p=0.033), and body mass index (r=0.123, p=0.018). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of EPT(+) were body mass index {adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.042, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.005-1.080}, presence of subclinical hypothyroidism (OR=3.047, 95% CI=1.083-8.572), TPO Ab titer (OR=1.028, 95% CI=1.015-1.041), and the presence of TPO Ab (OR=4.904, 95% CI=1.544-15.567). CONCLUSION: Subclinical hypothyroidism and the presence of TPO Ab are significantly associated with coronary vasospasm in patients without cardiovascular risk factors.
Autoimmunity* ; Body Mass Index ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Coronary Vessels ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism* ; Iodide Peroxidase ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors* ; Spasm ; Thyroid Gland*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of Carboprost versus methylergometrine maleate in the active management of third stage of labor for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.

METHODS: Entries in electronic databases with references cited in original studies and review articles were used to identify randomized clinical trials of carboprost versus methergin in the active management of third stage of labor. The quality of published clinical trials were evaluated and assessed based on the efficacy of Carboprost versus methylergometrine maleate for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.

RESULTS: Six (6) clinical trials were analyzed comprising a total sample pool of 525 women randomized to carboprost group and another 525 women to methergin. The risk ratio for dichotomous outcomes were calculated using a random-effects model while continuous outcomes were pooled using the standard mean difference. Results showed that both carboprost and methergin are both effective in preventing postpartum hemorrhage. But carboprost was found to be more efficacious in reducing the duration and decreasing the amount of blood loss in the third stage of labor and there was less need for an additional drug dose. Risks of side effects were higher in carboprost. Vomiting is the most frequent adverse event followed by diarrhea but are usually self-limiting.

CONCLUSION: Carboprost is well known for its therapeutic role in the management of postpartum hemorrhage, well-tolerated and with minimal adverse effects. It is therefore recommended to be used in hypertensive patients where methylergometrine maleate is contraindicated and in cases refractory to other uterotonic agents.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of variant angina (VA) is relatively high in Korea compared with western countries, but its long-term clinical outcomes are not well defined. METHODS: Patients who underwent ergonovine provocation tests at the cardiac catheterization laboratory of Chonnam National University Hospital between 1996 and 2011 were enrolled in this study (n = 1162). Of them, 686 patients with positive ergonovine provocation tests were divided into two groups: patients with cardiac events (Group I: 153 patients, 52.4 +/- 11.0 years, M: F = 103: 50) and those without (Group II: 533 patients, 51.6 +/- 10.7 years, M: F = 350: 183). The mean follow-up duration was 40.2 +/- 38.0 months. Cardiac events were defined as cardiac death, recurrent ischemia, rehospitalization, myocardial infarction, and follow-up angiography. Clinical findings, laboratory and coronary angiographic characteristics were compared between the groups. RESULTS: A history of smoking was more common in Group I than in Group II (45.8% vs. 36.3%, p = 0.037). The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (119.4 +/- 35.3 vs. 111.1 +/- 32.2 mg/dL, p = 0.010) were higher in Group I than in Group II. According to Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, the major predictive factor for cardiac events during clinical follow-up was smoking (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.036-3.126, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: A history of smoking was the only independent risk factor for cardiac events during a long-term clinical follow-up in Korean patients with variant angina.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Angiography ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Death ; Ergonovine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Lipoproteins ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

Ergonovine provocation test is known to be very sensitive for diagnosing variant angina. The patient described in this study initially presented with atypical chest pain and underwent coronary angiography and ergonovine provocation tests, which were negative. The patient was subsequently prescribed a proton pump inhibitor and prokinetics for pain relief, but then presented with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock due to coronary artery vasospasm 5 years later. This case suggests that ergonovine provocation test generates false negative results, which can lead to unwanted outcomes. Even with a negative ergonovine provocation test, prescription of calcium channel blockers or nitrates should be considered in patients with a clinical history suggestive of variant angina.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitrates ; Prescriptions ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Shock, Cardiogenic

Coronary artery spasm under general anesthesia induces interruption of blood flow of coronary arteries and can be detected by a sudden ST elevation on electrocardiogram, which may be followed by severe cardiovascular complications. We have experienced a case of a sudden ST elevation on a 52-year-old patient with no history of coronary artery diseases undergoing spine surgery under general anesthesia. Following administration of nitroglycerin, ST elevation returned to normal. Postoperative coronary angiogram showed positive on ergonovine provocation test and the patient was diagnosed as variant angina. Correlating with the results, we concluded that the ST elevation was probably due to coronary artery spasm. Although the definite mechanism of the coronary artery spasm is unclear. A-adrenergic stimulation by phenylephrine may have acted as a solitary factor or as one of many factors. Early administration of nitroglycerin and calcium channel blocker seems to be useful in treatment and prevention of recurrence.
Anesthesia, General ; Calcium Channels ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Nitroglycerin ; Phenylephrine ; Recurrence ; Spasm ; Spine