Key result
Coronary artery spasm was identified as a critical etiology for heart failure in three patients with nonobstructive coronary arteries, whose symptoms were effectively stabilized with calcium channel blockers.
Why the study?
Coronary artery spasm is an underrecognized cause of heart failure, even in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease.
Case Report (n=3)
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Coronary artery spasm is an underrecognized contributor to heart failure that can be diagnosed via provocation testing and effectively managed with calcium channel blockers.
Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is an underrecognized cause of heart failure, even in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. We report three cases of heart failure in which CAS was identified as the critical etiology. All patients exhibited symptoms of heart failure with nonobstructive coronary arteries, and CAS provocation testing confirmed epicardial spasm. In two cases, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed ischemic patterns consistent with CAS-related injuries. Calcium channel blockers effectively stabilize the signs and symptoms related to heart failure. This series highlights CAS as a contributor to heart failure progression and emphasizes the importance of provocation testing and early tailored therapy for improving outcomes.
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Naito et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Heart failure with nonobstructive coronary arteries (n=3). Calcium channel blockers was evaluated. Coronary artery spasm was identified as a critical etiology for heart failure in three patients with nonobstructive coronary arteries, whose symptoms were effectively stabilized with calcium channel blockers.
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