Key result
Severe coronary artery spasm in minimally diseased arteries can cause sinus node dysfunction, dizziness, and syncope, and may be fatal when involving all coronary branches.
Case Report (n=1)
This case demonstrates that severe coronary artery spasm can cause sinus node dysfunction and syncope, and may be fatal even with minimal underlying atherosclerosis.
Coronary spasm warrants consideration in unexplained syncope with minimal atherosclerosis; this case report leaves open its prevalence and management implications.
In a 55-year-old man, attacks of spontaneous angina were associated with dizziness and syncope. Holter ECG monitoring disclosed evidence of sinus node dysfunction. Dizziness and syncope were corrected by a permanent ventricular demand pacemaker. Coronary cineangiography showed spontaneous, severe, diffuse spasm in a dominant left coronary artery and localized spasm in a nondominant right coronary artery. The patient died of pump failure shortly after cardiac catheterization. An autopsy disclosed only minimal coronary atherosclerosis. This patient's condition shows that (1) coronary spasm may cause sinus node dysfunction, dizziness, and syncope, (2) severe spasm that involves all the coronary artery branches may be fatal, and (3) severe spasm occur in minimally diseased coronary arteries confirmed by pathologic examination.
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Tali T. Bashour (1982) conducted a case report in Coronary artery spasm with sinus node dysfunction and syncope (n=1). Coronary artery spasm was evaluated. Severe coronary artery spasm in minimally diseased arteries can cause sinus node dysfunction, dizziness, and syncope, and may be fatal when involving all coronary branches.
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