[Diagnosis and treatment of spastic angina revealed by cardiac arrest]

[Vasospastic angina: An under-diagnosed pathology]

The clinical and physiopathological clinical entity known as spastic angina or variant angina has been long documented. It remains, however, an under-estimated condition, which is insufficiently diagnosed and explored. This pathology is associated with severe complications such as heart rhythm disorders, which may potentially result in ventricular fibrillation and cause sudden death. In Japan, this condition occurs more frequently and is better documented. Stimulation tests are also carried out more often and have a higher positivity rate than in France where vasospastic angina is less frequently reported and where provocation tests are associated with negative results and are, consequently, performed less often. In order to improve the detection of this pathology, its potential presence should be explored in patients with rest angina who experience chest pain in the second half of the night and also in instances of acute coronary syndrome with sudden death and no angiographically visible coronary artery disease. The diagnosis should be confirmed by means of ergonovine provocation tests. In order to enhance the sensitivity of these tests without increasing the risk of complications, injection of ergonovine should be preferably carried out via the intracoronary route. By increasing the frequency and sensitivity of these tests, this pathology, which responds well to medical treatment in many cases, could be amenable to therapeutic management as any other form of coronary artery disease.

[Coronary spasm a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge]

Vasospastic angina is a clinical and physio-pathological entity, which has been documented for many years, but its diagnosis is under-estimated despite the fact that though inadequately considered and investigated. This condition is potentially serious and can sometimes trigger severe arrhythmia resulting in ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. This pathology has a higher incidence in Asia, where it is, therefore, better documented with provocative testing being carried out more frequently, while in France, these tests are not sufficiently performed probably due to the fact that they often produce negative findings. Provocative tests with Ergonovine injection should be performed via intra-coronary to improve its sensibility. Should this test become more sensitive and more routinely performed, this condition, which often responds well to medical treatment, could regain appropriate recognition as a coronary disease.

[Is coronary artery spasm a disease specific to women?]

Vasospastic angina is considered rare in Europe but with a prevalence probably underestimated and affects preferentially men in published studies, mostly involving Asian populations. Vasospastic angina in the female population have specificities in terms of pathophysiology, clinical presentation and prognosis, as well as diagnostic strategies currently recommended, that we describe from a clinical case. Although known for over 50years, vasospastic angina remains a disease still insufficiently researched, probably even less in women. This form of angina must not however be forgotten, and the appropriate diagnostic strategy must be known and used to improve prognosis.

[Acute coronary syndromes with ST elevation and angiographically normal culprit coronary arteries: Case report and update]

Acute coronary syndrome results in most cases of atherosclerotic plaque rupture. In a few cases, the physiopathological mechanism is different. This does not necessarily change the initial strategy but the subsequent treatments. We report three cases of clinical presentations of acute coronary syndrome whose pathophysiological mechanism is not or not mainly due to atherosclerotic lesions. Based on these cases and a review of the literature, two topics will be tackled: the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in the management of Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathies and also acute coronary syndromes due to vasospastic angina.