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Coronary artery spasm

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Variant angina; Angina - variant; Prinzmetal's angina 

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to control chest pain and to prevent heart attack. Nitroglycerin or other nitrate medications may be prescribed to relieve chest pain. Calcium-channel blockers may be chronically needed.

Medications may also include beta-blockers. However, in some cases of variant angina, beta-blockers may be harmful (especially if used along with cocaine).

Expectations (prognosis):

Coronary artery spasm is a chronic condition. Symptoms usually respond to treatment. This disorder may indicate a high risk for acute MI (heart attack) or potentially fatal arrhythmias. However, the prognosis is generally good if the patient is treated and avoids certain triggers.

Complications:

• Acute MI (heart attack)
• Arrhythmias

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if crushing or heavy chest pain occurs, or if chest pain does not respond to nitroglycerin in people with a prior history of angina.

• Review Date: 5/30/2006
• Reviewed By: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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