Secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death in coronary artery spasm: is implantable cardioverter defibrillator always efficient?

Coronary Artery Spasm-Related Heart Failure Syndrome: Literature Review

Although heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome that becomes worse over time, certain cases can be reversed with appropriate treatments. While coronary artery spasm (CAS) is still underappreciated and may be misdiagnosed, ischemia due to coronary artery disease and CAS is becoming the single most frequent cause of HF worldwide. CAS could lead to syncope, HF, arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemic syndromes such as asymptomatic ischemia, rest and/or effort angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Albeit the clinical significance of asymptomatic CAS has been undervalued, affected individuals compared with those with classic Heberden's angina pectoris are at higher risk of syncope, life-threatening arrhythmias, and sudden death. As a result, a prompt diagnosis implements appropriate treatment strategies, which have significant life-changing consequences to prevent CAS-related complications, such as HF. Although an accurate diagnosis depends mainly on coronary angiography and provocative testing, clinical characteristics may help decision-making. Because the majority of CAS-related HF (CASHF) patients present with less severe phenotypes than overt HF, it underscores the importance of understanding risk factors correlated with CAS to prevent the future burden of HF. This narrative literature review summarises and discusses separately the epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology, and management of patients with CASHF.

Myocardial Ischemic Syndromes, Heart Failure Syndromes, Electrocardiographic Abnormalities, Arrhythmic Syndromes and Angiographic Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Spasm: Literature Review

In coronary artery spasm (CAS), an excess coronary vasoconstriction causing total or subtotal vessel occlusion could lead to syncope, heart failure syndromes, arrhythmic syndromes, and myocardial ischemic syndromes including asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, stable and unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. Although the clinical significance of CAS has been underrated because of the frequent absence of symptoms, affected patients appear to be at higher risk of syncope, serious arrhythmias, and sudden death than those with classic Heberden's angina pectoris. Therefore, a prompt diagnosis has important therapeutic implications, and is needed to avoid CAS-related complications. While a definitive diagnosis is based mainly on coronary angiography and provocative testing, clinical features may help guide decision-making. We perform a literature review to assess the past and current state of knowledge regarding the clinical features, electrocardiographic abnormalities and angiographic diagnosis of CAS, while a discussion of mechanisms is beyond the scope of this review.

Cardiogenic Shock due to Pulseless Electrical Activity Arrest Associated with Severe Coronary Artery Spasm

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for follow-up coronary angiography. Just after starting coronary angiography, his electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in the V1-6, I, II, and aVF leads, and he fell into catastrophic cardiogenic shock. His left coronary arteriogram showed proximal total obstruction in the left anterior descending artery and proximal subtotal occlusion in the left circumflex artery. Because pulseless electrical activity arrest was recognized, cardiopulmonary support was started. After more than 15 minutes' cardiac massage, his blood pressure gradually returned to baseline. During the cardiogenic shock due to pulseless electrical activity arrest, neither ventricular fibrillation nor ventricular tachycardia was recognized.

Optimal Medications and Appropriate Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator Shocks in Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death Due to Coronary Spasm

Objective Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias are recognized in patients with coronary spastic angina. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are effective in patients with structural heart disease and ventricular fibrillation. However, the optimal medication for patients with aborted sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to coronary artery spasm after the implantation of ICD remains controversial. Methods We investigated the medications and the numbers of appropriate ICD shocks in 137 patients with a history of aborted SCD due to coronary spasm. Results Appropriate ICD shocks were observed in 24.1% (33/137) of patients with aborted SCD due to coronary spasm during 41 months of follow-up. Only 15 (15.6%) of the 96 patients with ICDs received aggressive medical therapy, including two or three calcium-channel antagonists. The rate of appropriate ICD shocks was significantly higher in Western countries than in Asian countries (42.9% vs. 19.3%, p<0.01), whereas the medications did not differ between the two regions. Appropriate ICD shocks successfully resuscitated 33 patients. Three patients died due to second serious fatal arrhythmias. Conclusion Appropriate ICD shocks were recognized in a quarter of patients with aborted SCD due to coronary spasm and ICD implantation was effective for suppressing the next serious fatal arrhythmia in these patients. We should reconsider prescribing more medications after ICD implantation in patients with aborted SCD due to coronary artery spasm.

An interesting implantable cardioverter defibrillator treatment for lethal ventricular arrhythmias caused by coronary artery spasm: A case report

RATIONALE

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) could cause serious lethal ventricular arrhythmias. While implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have been recommend for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death related to lethal ventricular arrhythmias. However, in resuscitated sudden cardiac death caused by CAS, the effect of ICD is still not well clear.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 60-year-old male presented with 2 episodes of syncope. Coronary angiography showed normal coronary arteries. Twenty-four hour Holter electrocardiograms revealed that there were repeatedly transient marked ST segment elevation in the all leads except avR lead, junctional rhythm, and subsequently nonsustained ventricular tachycardia.

DIAGNOSES

Ischemic-induced lethal ventricular arrhythmias caused by CAS.

INTERVENTIONS

Both calcium channel blocker (diltiazem, 180 mg twice daily) and nitrate (isosorbide dinitrate 40 mg twice daily) were initially administrated, and ICD was subsequently implanted as a secondary prevention.

OUTCOMES

In the early stage of CAS, ICD therapy terminated the lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Conversely, after the administration of epinephrine, ICD therapy, even combined with external defibrillation, failed in resuscitating sudden cardiac death.

LESSONS

For the sudden cardiac death related to lethal ventricular arrhythmias caused by CAS, ICD therapy is an efficient secondary prevention base on administrating coronary vasodilators. Furthermore, administration of epinephrine should be avoided during cardiorespiratory resuscitation of sudden cardiac death caused by CAS.

Malignant multivessel coronary spasm complicated by myocardial infarction, transient complete heart block, ventricular fibrillation, cardiogenic shock and ischemic stroke

Multivessel coronary spasm resulting to cardiogenic shock and malignant ventricular arrhythmias though rare has been reported in the literature. The disease seems to be more prevalent in Asians. There have been isolated reports of coronary spasm in patients with reactive airway disease. We report the first case of spontaneous multivessel spasm in a male patient with bronchial asthma of Arab ethnicity resulting in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, and transient complete heart block. Literature review of similar cases suggests a strong association with bronchial asthma and a more malignant course in patients with reactive airway disease. The role of intracoronary nitroglycerin in proving the diagnosis even in patients in shock on maximal inotropic supports and intra-aortic balloon pump is highlighted and the importance of considering multivessel coronary spasm as a cause for acute coronary syndrome even in patients with conventional risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is reinforced in the discussion of this case.

Current advances in the understanding of coronary vasospasm

Recent years have witnessed progress in our understanding of coronary vasospasm (CVS). It is evident that this is not only an East Asian but also a global disease associated with significant symptoms and possible lethal sequelae for afflicted individuals. A correct diagnosis depends on the understanding of pathogenesis and symptomatology of CVS. With the correct diagnosis, we can manage CVS patients effectively and promptly, providing optimal patient safety. Advances in our understanding of interactions between inflammation, endothelium, and smooth muscle cells have led to substantial progress in understanding the pathogenesis of symptoms in CVS and have provided some insights into the basic etiology of this disorder in some patient subpopulations. We look forward to a time when therapy will address pathophysiology and perhaps, even the primary etiology.