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Epidural spinal cord stimulation in the management of spasms in spinal cord injury: a prospective study.

Forty-eight spinal cord injury victims were implanted with an epidural spinal cord stimulation system to treat spasms that had not satisfactorily responded to medical therapy. All the patients were at least 6 months after the injury. The protocol included assessment by independent examiners preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after the implant. Pre- and postoperative data collection included the frequency and severity of the spasms. Combining the frequency and intensity scores into a 'severity' score provided a more accurate clinical picture. No patient observed neurological deterioration following the surgical procedure or the neurostimulation treatment. A statistically significant reduction in the severity of the spasms was observed in the follow-up evaluations, with results that progressively increased in time. It is appears that spinal cord stimulation is an effective and safe alternative in the management of spasms in spinal cord injury victims. Its exact role in relation to intrathecal baclofen infusion and ablative procedures remains to be defined.

Adolescent↗

Transient QRS axis shift to the right during right coronary artery and/or left circumflex artery spasms.

The QRS axis was measured in 24 patients during ergonovine malate provocation test (EM test). Of 12 patients with significant spasm of the right coronary artery (RCA) and/or left circumflex artery (LCX), the QRS axis shifted to the right in 7 patients after the EM test (mean 8.2 degrees), and the axis shifted back to the left in 9 patients after nitroglycerin administration (mean -9.1 degrees). The sensitivity of right axis shift for RCA and LCX spasm was 58% and the specificity was 80%. Thus, right axis shift seems to be associated with myocardial ischemia due to RCA and LCX spasm and to be useful for the detection of RCA and/or LCX spasms.

Coronary Vasospasm↗

Spasm of a normal or minimally narrowed coronary artery in the presence of severe fixed stenoses of the remaining vessels: clinical and angiographic observations.

Four patients with medically refractory unstable angina are presented. Each patient had ST-segment abnormalities during some episode of pain. Three patients had at least one episode of documented ST-segment elevation with their spontaneously occurring chest pain. One had recurrent ventricular tachycardia. Two patients had prior myocardial infarction. Angiography demonstrated localized left ventricular akinesis and a severe fixed stenosis in the coronary artery supplying the abnormal segment. There were severe, fixed lesions in two coronary arteries in two patients and in one vessel in two patients. After i.v. ergonovine maleate, coronary artery spasm was documented in a normal or minimally diseased coronary artery in each patient. In two patients, ergonovine-induced spasm not only occluded the vessel, but also markedly decreased retrograde filling of a vessel with severe, fixed narrowing. Each patient's characteristic symptoms appeared with the ergonovine-induced spasm. Thus, ergonovine maleate can provoke spasm of a normal coronary artery, even in the presence of severe fixed stenoses of the remaining vessels. This observation may have an important role in the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with chest pain.

Adult↗

alpha-Adrenergic receptors and coronary spasm: an elusive link.

In 14 consecutive patients with variant angina we investigated the possible role of coronary alpha-adrenergic receptors in the genesis of coronary spasm. In eight patients, computerized, beat-by-beat analysis of the electrocardiogram recorded during continuous Holter monitoring failed to reveal any increase of heart rate and corrected QT interval (both indexes of cardiac sympathetic activation) in the period preceding the onset of ST segment changes in 197 episodes of ischemia caused by coronary spasm. In the same patients, analysis of the circadian distribution of ischemic episodes revealed a significantly higher incidence in the early morning hours, when sympathetic activity is at the lowest level. Twelve patients underwent serial provocative testing with cold pressor, phenylephrine, or norepinephrine infusion and administration of ergonovine maleate. Ergonovine consistently reproduced coronary spasm in all 12 patients, while results of cold pressor testing were positive in only one. Infusion of phenylephrine (eight patients) or norepinephrine after beta-blockade (four patients) failed to precipitate myocardial ischemia. In five patients infusion of phentolamine at the highest tolerated dose did not reduce significantly the number of ischemic attacks when compared with placebo. In contrast to results of previous reports, our data seem to rule out the hypothesis that an increase of sympathetic outflow to the heart plays an important role in the genesis of coronary spasm. We cannot, however, exclude the possibility of localized alpha-stimulation of epicardial arteries.

Adult↗

Induction of coronary artery spasm by a direct local action of ergonovine.

To investigate whether ergonovine acts directly on coronary arteries or via remote neurohumoral reflexes, we administered small titrated increments of intracoronary ergonovine up to a maximum cumulative dose of 50 micrograms to 15 patients. In six patients with variant angina (group 1), ischemic electrocardiographic ST changes, angina, and localized coronary spasm (local coronary diameter reduction of 87.8 +/- 18.9% [mean +/- SD]) followed after 6 to 50 micrograms (mean 20.7) cumulative intracoronary ergonovine. In nine patients with atypical chest pain, normal baseline coronary arteriograms, and no evidence of variant angina (group 2), there was no ischemic ST segment change or localized coronary spasm after 6 to 50 micrograms (mean 31.6) intracoronary ergonovine. Coronary diameter of proximal vessels of patients in group 2 was reduced by 16.2 +/- 6.5% and did not differ from the response of nonspastic vessels of comparable size of group 1 (20.5 +/- 13.8%; p = .7). There was no significant difference in the median effective dose values in the dose-response curves of the spastic and nonspastic segments between groups 1 and 2. Ergonovine causes coronary spasm by a direct local effect, which seems to be caused by localized arterial hyperreactivity rather than supersensitivity. Intracoronary delivery may be safer than intravenous administration because negligible drug recirculation may prevent perpetuation of spasm and selective coronary administration can avoid branches with critical stenoses.

Coronary Vasospasm↗

Variant angina pectoris. Role of coronary spasm in the development of fixed coronary obstructions.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that recurring coronary artery spasm may lead to the development of fixed atherosclerotic coronary obstructions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 10 patients with typical Prinzmetal's variant angina in whom the disease remained active for years and in whom occlusive coronary spasm occurred reproducibly at the same arterial site during repeat coronary arteriography (25 +/- 12 months after initial angiography). At initial evaluation, four patients had significant (greater than or equal to 50% fixed coronary diameter reduction) one-vessel coronary artery disease, and six had nonsignificant disease. Spasm developed at stenotic sites (20-65% diameter reduction) in nine patients and at an angiographically normal site in one patient. Progression of coronary disease was assessed in 62 segments: 10 spastic (of which nine were stenotic) and 52 nonspastic (eight stenotic and 44 angiographically normal), using computerized arteriography. Mean diameters (millimeters) of spastic segments, nonspastic stenoses, and angiographically normal nonspastic segments were not significantly different at first and second arteriograms (1.52 +/- 0.14 versus 1.43 +/- 0.21, 1.32 +/- 0.17 versus 1.12 +/- 0.23, and 2.40 +/- 0.12 versus 2.42 +/- 0.12, respectively). Stenosis progression (from 65% diameter reduction to total occlusion) occurred in one patient at a spastic site and in two at nonspastic sites (from 34% to 65% and from 84% to 100%). Complicated stenoses suggestive of plaque fissuring were not observed during the study. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic Prinzmetal's variant angina without myocardial infarction, stenosis progression was not frequently observed at spastic sites despite the recurrence of focal coronary spasm over relatively long periods of time.

Adult↗

Serotonin-induced coronary spasm in a swine model. A minor role of defective endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

BACKGROUND: Coronary spasm may be caused by endothelial dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle hyperreactivity, or both. We aimed to determine the relative role of endothelial dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle hyperreactivity in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm in the swine model in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: In Göttingen miniature pigs given a high cholesterol diet, a segment of the left coronary artery was denuded and irradiated with x-ray (total, 30 Gy). Three months after endothelial denudation and irradiation, vasomotor responses of the denuded and control sites to agonists were assessed by quantitative arteriography. Serotonin (10 micrograms/kg) provoked coronary spasm at the denuded site (diameter reduction, 79 +/- 6%) associated with ST elevation but not at the nondenuded control site (21 +/- 6%). Intracoronary infusion of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (LNNA, an inhibitor of endothelium-derived nitric oxide) of 1 and 3 mg/kg potentiated constriction evoked with serotonin (1, 3, 10 micrograms/kg) at the control site but did not alter it at the denuded site. However, serotonin-induced constriction after LNNA was still less at the control site (31 +/- 3%) than at the denuded site (80 +/- 5%). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation with substance P (0.1, 1, 10 ng/kg), which was inhibited by LNNA, was less (P < .01) at the denuded site than at the control site, whereas vasodilation with the nitrovasodilator SIN-1 (0.1, 1, 10 ng/kg) was comparable between the two sites. Histological study revealed regenerated endothelial cells and intimal thickening at the denuded site. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the denuded segment of the coronary artery with regenerated endothelium was associated with defective endothelium-dependent vasodilation mediated by nitric oxide and vascular smooth muscle hyperreactivity to serotonin. However, provocation of coronary spasm with serotonin resulted primarily from vascular smooth muscle hyperreactivity but not by defective nitric oxide production in this swine model.

Animals↗

Pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm in miniature swine with regional intimal thickening after balloon denudation.

Pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm induced by histamine in miniature pigs was studied angiographically in in vivo and in vitro conditions. Endothelial balloon denudation was performed and the animals were fed laboratory chow for 3 months, after which coronary artery spasm was repeatedly provoked by histamine given intracoronarily. Regional hypercontraction of the coronary artery was documented by selective coronary arteriography, and the resulting myocardial ischemia was confirmed by ECG-ST changes. To evaluate coronary artery spasm without the influence of blood constituents and neural control and to quantitate the pharmacophysiological characteristics of histamine-induced coronary constriction in the coronary spasm, the same heart was isolated and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution under a constant perfusion pressure of 90 mm Hg. Histamine (10(-5) M) reduced the diameter of the coronary artery of the isolated heart by 29 +/- 4 and 67 +/- 3% (p less than 0.001) in nondenuded and denuded areas, respectively. These figures were similar to data obtained angiographically in vivo after the administration of histamine 10 micrograms/kg. The constriction of the denuded areas in response to histamine was topologically the same in vivo and in vitro. The degree of focal constriction induced by histamine, defined as a percent of stenoses from the mean diameter of the areas of proximal and distal to the spastic site, was similar in in vivo (10 micrograms/kg i.c.) and in vitro (10(-5) M) conditions. KCl (40 mM) reduced both the denuded and nondenuded coronary artery diameter by 67 +/- 3% and 68 +/- 3% (NS), respectively. The dose-response relation of the coronary diameter to histamine was not influenced by pretreatment with the nerve transmitter blockers guanethidine (3 X 10(-6) M), atropine (10(-6) M), and tetrodotoxin (3 X 10(-7) M). Phenylephrine (10(-5) M) did not potentiate constriction of the denuded areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Suppression of coronary artery spasm by the Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil in patients with vasospastic angina.

BACKGROUND: Increased activity of Rho-kinase causes hypercontraction of vascular smooth muscle and has been implicated as playing a pathogenetic role in divergent cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery spasm. We examined whether an intracoronary infusion of fasudil, a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, would attenuate coronary vasoconstrictor responses to acetylcholine (ACh) in patients with vasospastic angina. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 20 consecutive patients in whom coronary artery spasm was provoked by intracoronary ACh. The patients underwent a second ACh challenge after pretreatment with intracoronary saline (n=5) or fasudil (n=15; 300 microg/min for 15 minutes). Angina and coronary vasospasm were reproducibly induced by the second testing in patients who received saline. In contrast, fasudil markedly attenuated the coronary constriction induced by ACh (P<0.001) and prevented the occurrence of chest pain and ischemic ECG changes in all treated patients (both P<0.01 versus saline). Fasudil, at the dose used in this study, did not significantly change systemic hemodynamics or baseline coronary blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: Fasudil was effective in preventing ACh-induced coronary artery spasm and resultant myocardial ischemia in patients with vasospastic angina. We suggest that this Rho-kinase inhibitor may be a novel therapeutic intervention to treat ischemic coronary syndromes caused by coronary artery spasm.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Diffuse and severe left ventricular dysfunction induced by epicardial coronary artery spasm.

Endothelial dysfunction and effectiveness of treatment of calcium antagonists are suggestive of coronary artery spasm as an underlying disorder in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of this study is to determine whether or not the epicardial coronary artery spasm can induce severe cardiac dysfunction like DCM. Thirty-four consecutive patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis whose causes had been unknown underwent acetylcholine provocation test and left ventricular biopsy. Eight patients were excluded according to the clinical and laboratory data and biopsy findings suggesting myocarditis or other systemic diseases. According to the results of the acetylcholine provocation test, 17 patients were finally diagnosed as having DCM, and nine patients (35% of the study patients), who had acetylcholine-induced diffuse and multivessel coronary spasm, were diagnosed as having DCM-like vasospastic angina pectoris (VSA). Clinical and cardiac catheterization data including hemodynamics and biopsy findings were similar between the two groups except that left ventricular end-systolic volume was significantly greater in DCM than in DCM-like VSA. After the acetylcholine provocation test, DCM patients received both a beta blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and DCM-like VSA patients received antianginal drugs. In echocardiographic findings at predischarge and those after 6-month drug treatment, both DCM-lke VSA and DCM showed significant reduction in end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters and significant increase in fractional shortening and ejection fraction, whereas changes in ejection fraction and fractional shortening were significantly greater in DCM-like VSA than those in DCM. Epicardial coronary artery spasm can induce diffuse and severe left ventricular dysfunction like DCM in VSA. Although antianginal drugs markedly improve left ventricular function of these patients, only the acetylcholine provocation test can identify DCM-like VSA.

Acetylcholine↗

Prostanoids, coronary circulation and coronary artery spasm in open chest dogs and miniature pigs.

Effects of prostanoids on coronary circulation were studied in anesthetized open chest dogs with intact coronary arteries or in closed chest Göttingen miniature pigs with denuded vessels. In the latter model, coronary artery spasm was repeatedly provoked at the previously denuded area by histamine i.c. after pretreatment with cimetidine i.v., H2-blocker. In the canine model, prostacyclin (PGI2) dilated to a greater extent the diameter of the large epicardial coronary artery than did PGE2, and both equally reduced the total coronary resistance. Vasoconstrictive effects of carbocyclic thromboxane A2, a stable analogue of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) on the epicardial coronary artery was augmented from 1.1 +/- 0.3 to 6.5 +/- 1.3% (p less than 0.01) after pretreatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors. In case of Göttingen miniature pigs 3 months after endothelial denudation and cholesterol freeding, neither PGI2 nor indomethacin prevented histamine-induced coronary artery spasm. Thiothromboxane A2, a stable analogue of TxA2, did not provoke coronary artery spasm in the animals. Therefore, prostanoids may not be crucial to the provocation or prevention of coronary artery spasm from which myocardial ischemia ensues.

Animals↗

Methylergonovine-induced spasm of saphenous vein coronary bypass graft.

A case of repeated methylergonovine-induced spasm of a saphenous vein bypass graft in a 56-year-old man is presented. Prior to the operation, spasm was induced by methylergonovine in the stenosed right coronary artery. Six months after the operation, coronary angiographic studies showed induced spasm of the right coronary graft but no spasm in native vessels nor in the other graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Angina Pectoris↗

Pathogenesis of unstable angina with 0- or 1-vessel disease. Important role of coronary artery spasm.

In order to examine the possible role of coronary artery spasm in the pathogenesis of unstable angina, provocative testing for coronary spasm was performed in 43 patients with unstable angina who had 0- or 1-vessel disease. Coronary spasm was induced in 20 (65%) of 31 patients by hyperventilation testing (ST increases in 18, ST decreases in 2). Anginal attacks with either ST-segment elevation or ST-segment depression in patients without a significant organic stenosis were induced in 23 (55%) of 42 patients during treadmill exercise testing. Coronary artery spasm, showing severe (> or = 90%) vasoconstriction with angina and/or ischemic electrocardiographic ST-segment deviation, was also documented angiographically in 42 (98%) of 43 patients following intracoronary injection of acetylcholine. We conclude that dynamic coronary obstruction plays an important role in the genesis of attacks in patients with unstable angina who had 0- or 1-vessel organic coronary artery disease.

Acetylcholine↗

Complete prevention of acetylcholine induced coronary artery spasm with nifedipine.

A 63-year-old woman has been known to have angina pectoris due to coronary artery (CA) spasm. An intra-left CA infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) provoked spasms of the left CA and an anginal attack. After daily oral administration of nifedipine (NIF) for 2 weeks, intra-CA re-infusion study of ACh did not provoke any CA spasms. This is the first report to demonstrate the complete prevention of ACh-induced CA spasm with nifedipine.

Acetylcholine↗

Our animal model of coronary spasm--my personal view.

We developed an animal model of coronary spasm in swine, similar to coronary spasm in patients with variant angina based on the angiographic findings. In this animal model, an impairment of endothelium dependent dilatation appeared to play a minor role while the hypercontraction of the medial muscle cells by histamine and serotonin at the spastic site played a major role in the induction of coronary spasm. In Göttingen male miniature swine receiving focal endothelial denudation, moderate hypercholesterolemia and X ray irradiation, the abrupt, severe and prolonged coronary spasm resulted in a sudden progression of organic coronary stenosis mainly due to intraplaque hemorrhage and also in acute myocardial infarction.

Animals↗

Coronary artery spasm.

Coronary artery spasm is an important pathogenetic mechanism in some forms of myocardial ischemic disease. Factors that may be important in the genesis of spasm include the autonomic nervous system, prostaglandins, endoperoxides, thromboxanes, and the calcium availability to the contractile apparatus. Spasm results in myocardial ischemia with attendant chest pain and electrocardiographic and hemodynamic changes; it is the primary pathogenetic mechanism in Prinzmetal's variant angina and has been found in association with classic angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction. Diagnosis of coronary artery spasm is firmly made only by coronary angiography. Treatment includes the use of both short- and long-acting nitrates and the slow-channel blocking agents such as verapamil, nifedipine, and perhexiline.

Angina Pectoris↗

Use of ergonovine to identify esophageal spasm in patients with chest pain.

We administered intravenous ergonovine maleate to 14 patients with chest pain resembling angina pectoris and to four healthy volunteers. Five of the patients experienced their typical chest pain after ergonovine, and manometric signs of esophageal spasm also developed. The remaining nine patients and the four volunteers did not experience chest pain, but all subjects except one had some symptomatic response to ergonovine, including chest warmth or heaviness, headache, mild choking sensation, facial numbness, flushing, or nausea. Two of the nine patients and one of the four volunteers developed manometric signs of esophageal spasm after ergonovine but experienced no chest pain. Intravenous ergonovine may be useful to identify esophageal spasm in selected patients with chest pain who have normal coronary arteries or in whom coronary artery disease is insufficient to explain symptoms. However, we believe that the potential risks of ergonovine do not justify its routine use as a provocative agent for esophageal spasm.

Adult↗

Iatrogenic arterial spasm relieved by intraarterial mannitol infusion.

Catheter placement for blood brain-barrier disruption and enhanced chemotherapy delivery can sometimes trigger arterial spasm of moderate-to-severe degree. A slow infusion of a small quantity of intraarterially administered mannitol (10 mL of 25% mannitol) was evaluated as a means to obtain a rapid resolution of catheter placement-induced spasm. We prospectively report 12 consecutive cases of blood brain-barrier disruption among patients who developed catheter placement-induced spasm that was treated by this means without side effects, resulting in rapid resolution of spasm.

Antineoplastic Agents↗