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Coronary artery spasm-induced acute myocardial infarction (CASIAMI) is one of the etiologies of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). We retrospectively analyzed the incidence and clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with CASIAMI and non-obstructive coronary arteries. We experienced 62 patients with MINOCA (10 thrombosis, 7 unknown causes, and 45 CASIAMI) among 991 patients with suspected AMI. Pharmacological spasm provocation testing was performed in 37 patients. CASIAMI without obstructive coronary arteries was found in 4.5% of patients with suspected AMI and was observed in 73% of patients with MINOCA. Patients with CASIAMI were frequently males and had relatively small AMIs. Spontaneous spasm was recognized in 8 patients. We could reproduce provoked spasm in 37 patients with MINOCA, including 23 patients with multiple spasm. No patients died during the follow-up period. The clinical outcomes in patients with CASIAMI under optimal coronary vasodilators were satisfactory.

In a patient with variant angina of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, myocardial ischemia changed the QRS-ST-T configurations without J-waves into those resembling “lambda” waves at maximal ST-segment elevation, and couplets or triplets of supraventricular extrasystole (SVE) changed the ischemia-induced “lambda” waves into QRS-ST-T configurations resembling a “tombstone” morphology or “monophasic QRS-ST complex.” At the resolution phase of coronary spasm, the QRS-ST-T configurations returned to those without J-waves and were changed by SVE into “lambda” waves. Interestingly, neither ischemia- nor SVE-induced “lambda” waves or SVE-induced “tombstone” morphology or “monophasic QRS-ST complex” were complicated by ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

Objective A pathological acetylcholine (ACh) test was observed at lower ACh doses in females compared with males in European populations. We retrospectively analyzed the sex-related differences in Japanese patients with provoked positive spasm by ACh spasm provocation testing. Methods We performed the ACh spasm provocation tests in 1,854 patients from Jan 1991 until Mar 2019. ACh was injected in incremental doses of 20/50/100/200 μg into the left coronary artery and 20/50/80 μg into the right coronary artery. Positive spasm was defined as >90% stenosis and usual chest pain or ischemic ECG changes. We compared the clinical characteristics, angiographical findings during ACh testing, and clinical outcomes between female and male patients with and without provoked positive spasm. Results Positive provoked spasm was diagnosed in 917 patients including 737 (80.4%) males and 180 (19.6%) females. The incidence of provoked positive spasm in females was significantly lower than that in males (33.5% vs. 56.0%, p

Objective The decision to perform medical or mechanical therapy in patients with aborted sudden cardiac death (ASCD) due to coronary spasm is controversial. The Japanese Circulation Society guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with coronary spastic angina mentioned that implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is one option in patients with ASCD due to coronary spasm. We investigated the usefulness of spasm provocation tests under medications in five patients with ASCD due to coronary spasm. Methods We performed the spasm provocation tests under medications in five ASCD patients due to coronary spasm. Pharmacological spasm provocation tests, including five acetylcholine (ACh) tests, two ergonovine (ER) tests, and two ACh added after ER tests, were performed to estimate the effect of medications to suppressing the next fatal spasms. Results ACh tests under medications did not provoke spasm in one patient but did provoke in two patients. In the remaining two patients, neither the ACh test nor the ER test provoked spasm, but the ACh added after ER test induced a focal spasm in one coronary artery. We increased the medication dosage in four patients. An ICD was implanted in two patients, including one with refractory spasm and one with left main trunk spasm. One patient died due to pulseless electrical activity without ventricular fibrillation, while the remaining four patients survived. Conclusion Spasm provocation tests under medication in patients with ASCD due to coronary spasm may be an option when deciding on medical or mechanical therapy.

Background The intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER) test is employed as a pharmacological spasm provocation test. ACh causes vasoconstriction in patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction such as coronary atherosclerosis, while ER induces coronary vasoconstriction through the activation of coronary smooth muscle. Case summary An 84-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital due to resting angina and syncope. Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCAG) revealed severe proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery stenosis, but hybrid images of CTCAG and thallium-adenosine myocardial scintigraphy revealed no ischaemia. During syncope, inverted T waves on V5, V6 leads were recognized. After coronary arteriography, mild atherosclerotic stenosis (50%) was found at the proximal LAD artery, and we administered intracoronary ER 104 µg and 80 µg into the left and right coronary arteries because of suspected coronary spasm. However, no provoked spasm was obtained in either vessel. We administered 20, 50, and 100 µg intracoronary ACh into the left coronary artery (LCA) for 30 s without a pacemaker, because neither bradycardia nor cardiac arrest has occurred. Diffuse distal spasm was provoked after the administration of 100 µg ACh and the patient complained of typical chest pain and prodrome before syncope. The patient was diagnosed with coronary spastic angina by the ACh test but not the ER test. Discussion Different coronary responses between ACh and ER were observed in this case. Intracoronary ACh testing without a pacemaker may be one option in the LCA if no bradycardia or arrest occurs.

Rationale: Recent studies have shown that QT interval prolongation is associated with disease severity and predicts mortality in systemic inflammatory diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. Systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines released from synovial tissues in rheumatoid arthritis, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, could have direct effects on cardiac electrophysiology, particularly changes in the expression and function of potassium and calcium channels, resulting in QT interval prolongation on surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and an increased predisposition to develop lethal ventricular arrhythmias. However, reports on torsade de pointes (TdP) due to acquired long QT syndrome in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are limited. Patient concerns: An 85-year-old Japanese woman with active PMR developed first syncope. Diagnosis: Frequent premature atrial contractions (PACs) with multiple patterns of aberrant conduction, QT interval prolongation, and morphological T-U wave variability followed by TdP were documented. PACs were the first beat of TdP. Interventions: Amiodarone, together with magnesium and potassium, was intravenously administered. However, TdP resulted in a ventricular arrhythmic storm, for which sedation with mechanical ventilatory support, temporary overdrive cardiac pacing, and intravenous landiolol administration in addition to multiple direct current shocks were effective. Outcomes: Approximately 2 years later, the patient was treated with amiodarone, propranolol, and prednisolone. She did not undergo implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation and was quite well, with no recurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Lessons: IL-6 hyperproduction in inflamed tissues has been widely confirmed in PMR. Frequent PACs with various patterns of aberrant conduction, QT interval prolongation, and morphological T-U wave variability followed by TdP, for which IL-6-mediated enhancement of L-type Ca2+ current and inhibition of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ current are the most likely mechanisms, were documented in an elderly Japanese woman with PMR. ECG may be recorded once in patients with active PMR even when these patients do not complain of palpitation or syncope. If QT interval prolongation or arrhythmia, including even PACs, is observed, follow-up ECG may be warranted, particularly for patients with some risk factors for QT prolongation that could lead to TdP, such as advanced age, female sex, hypopotassemia, and polypharmacy.

A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to effort angina. His electrocardiogram (ECG) showed broad ST-segment depression, and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I level was significantly increased, indicating non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Emergent coronary

Objectives The clinical characteristics in patients with catheter-induced spasm in the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) are controversial. We performed a clinical analysis of catheter-induced spasm in the RCA. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 5,296 consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic or follow-up angiography during a 26-year period. During this period, we found 40 patients with catheter-induced spasm in the RCA. We compared the clinical characteristics and procedures of cardiac catheterization in patients with catheter-induced spasm in the RCA with those in patients without such spasm. Results The frequency of catheter-induced spasm in the RCA was 0.75% (40/5,296). We performed pharmacological spasm provocation tests in 36 of 40 patients after spasm relief. Positive spasm was observed in 32 patients (88.9%), and 25 patients (78.1%) had multiple spasms. The catheter procedures, including the approach sites (radial/brachial/femoral), catheter size (4/5/6Fr) and catheter type (Judkins right/Sones/Shared/Judkins left 3.5/Amplatz) were not markedly different between the two groups. A multivariate analysis showed that positive spasm [odds ratio (OR): 7.030, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.920-25.700], a younger age (OR: 0.937, 95% CI: 0.910-0.965) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 0.278, 95% CI: 0.083-0.928) were the determinant factors for the catheter-induced spasm. Conclusion Approximately 80% of patients with catheter-induced spasm in the proximal RCA had coronary spastic angina. Positive provoked spasm was the most powerful determinant factor for catheter-induced spasm.

An elderly Japanese woman developed acute decompensated heart failure caused by persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Approximately 6 days after starting intravenous administration of amiodarone (600 mg/day) for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of AF, electrocardiograms revealed a prolonged QT interval associated with torsade de pointes (TdP). The amiodarone‐induced TdP disappeared after intravenous administration of landiolol plus magnesium and potassium, without discontinuation of amiodarone or overdrive cardiac pacing, although the prolonged QT interval persisted. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that landiolol could be effective for amiodarone‐induced TdP.

There is no report regarding the correlation between spontaneous documented coronary spasm and acetylcholine (ACh)-inducible spasm. We retrospectively analyzed the coincidence between angiographical spontaneous coronary spasm and ACh-inducible spasm in the same patients. We recruited 28 patients with 30 angiographical spontaneous coronary spasm in 6009 patients with diagnostic and follow-up coronary arteriography from Jan 1991 and Mar 2019 in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We could perform intracoronary ACh testing in 19 patients with 20 vessels. ACh was injected in incremental dose of 20/50/100 μg into the left coronary artery and 20/50/80 μg into the right coronary artery. Positive spasm was defined as > 90% stenosis and ischemic ECG changes. Angiographical documented spontaneous coronary spasm was observed in 0.47% (28/6009) of patients with diagnostic and follow-up coronary angiography. Intracoronary administration of ACh reproduced 15 spontaneous coronary spasm and no provoked spasm was observed in the remaining 5 vessels due to the administration of nitroglycerine or under medications. Spasm-provoked sites by ACh tests and ACh-inducible spasm configurations were almost similar to spontaneous spasm. Coincidence of provoked spasm site (93.3% vs. 6.7%, p

When cardiologists diagnose patients with coronary spastic angina, Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) guidelines recommend the intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER) as class I. However, the pharmacological difference between ACh and ER is controversial in the clinic. We performed both ACh and ER tests in the same 528 patients during 26 years. We investigated the provoked spasm configuration, spasm site, and clinical characteristics of provoked spasm between ACh and ER, retrospectively. We defined positive spasm as ≥90% luminal narrowing. Provoked positive spasm was observed in 161 right coronary arteries (RCA) including 83 ACh just positive, 35 ER just positive, and 43 both positive. In contrast, positive spasm was documented in 172 left coronary arteries (LCA) including 94 ACh just positive, 28 ER just positive, and 50 both positive. ACh provoked spasm more distally and diffusely, while ER induced spasm more proximally and totally or focally in the RCA. In the LCA, ACh provoked spasm more proximally, whereas ER induced spasm more distally. ER testing after the negative ACh tests of RCA and LCA documented new positive spasms in 10.3% (35/340) and 7.4% (28/376), respectively. Coronary artery trees may each have a sensitive receptor on each segment. We recommend the supplementary use of ACh and ER to document coronary artery spasm in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a relatively rare cause of acute coronary syndrome compared with atherosclerotic plaque rupture and predominantly occurs in young women. SCAD is associated with various conditions, such as emotional stress, pregnancy, hormonal therapy, collagen diseases, fibromuscular dysplasia, or vasospasm. Long-term cardiovascular events are common including the recurrence of SCAD. We report a case of SCAD with de novo recurrence at only 4 days after the first attack.

BACKGROUND Temporary pace maker is necessary because of transient block or bradycardia during the intracoronary acetylcholine spasm provocation tests based on the Japanese Circulation Society guidelines. OBJECTIVES We examined the feasibility and safety of the acetylcholine spasm provocation test via the radial artery and brachial vein approach. METHODS We tried to perform the acetylcholine spasm provocation tests in 252 patients via the radial artery and brachial vein approach procedures during 5 years. Acetylcholine was injected in incremental doses of 20/50/80 μg into the right coronary artery (RCA) and 20/50/100/200 μg into the left coronary artery (LCA). Back-up pacing rate was set at 40 beats/min. Positive spasm was defined as transient ≥90% luminal narrowing and ischemic electrocardiographic change or usual chest pain. RESULTS The procedure success of radial artery and brachial vein access was 94.4% (238/252) and 93.3% (235/252), respectively. We performed 221 patients (87.7%) with acetylcholine tests by radial artery and brachial vein approach. We changed to the brachial approach due to the failures of radial artery access in 14 patients. We also changed to the femoral vein in 11 patients and internal jugular vein in two patients. Back-up pace maker rhythm was observed in 92.1% (232/252) of all study patients, while it was significantly higher in the RCA testing than that in the LCA tests (84.9% (191/225) vs. 52.2% (131/251), P < 0.001). No irreversible complication was found. CONCLUSIONS We recommend the radial artery and brachial vein approach for safety and convenience when performing the acetylcholine spasm provocation tests.

We examined the clinical usefulness of treadmill exercise tests (TETs) in diagnosing coronary spastic angina (CSA).We performed the TETs and 24-h Holter monitoring in 300 CSA patients consisting of 152 patients with rest angina, 77 patients with effort angina, and 71 patients with rest and effort angina. Organic stenosis (75%) was observed in 44 patients. Multiple spasms were recognized in 204 patients (68%).Positive TETs were recognized in 113 patients (38%) and borderline was observed in 30 patients (10%). Positive response was significantly higher in patients with organic stenosis than those without fixed stenosis (63.6% vs. 33.2%, p0.001). Moreover, ST elevation was more frequent in patients with organic stenosis than those without fixed stenosis (27.3% vs. 1.2%, p0.001). Positive response in patients with effort angina (46.8%) was higher than those in patients with rest angina (33.6%) and rest and effort angina (36.6%), but not significant. Positive response was not different between single spasm and multiple spasms. In all 300 patients, ST segment elevation was observed in only four patients (1.3%) on the 24-h Holter monitoring.TET was useful in documenting ischemia in patients with CSA. More than a third of patients with CSA had positive TETs. Moreover, we obtained the pathologic TET response in approximately half of patients with CSA.

Background and aims Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common disease; however, its exact pathogenesis remains unknown, and no specific medical therapies are available. Interleukin (IL)-18 plays a crucial role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular death. Here, we investigated the role of IL-18 in AAA pathogenesis using an experimental mouse model. Methods and results After infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) for 4 weeks and β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) for 2 weeks, 58% of C57/6J wild-type (WT) mice developed AAA associated with enhanced expression of IL-18; however, disease incidence was significantly lower in IL-18−/− mice than in WT mice (p Conclusions These findings indicate that IL-18 plays an important role in the development of AAA by enhancing OPN expression, macrophage recruitment, and MMP activation. Moreover, IL-18 represents a previously unrecognized therapeutic target for the prevention of AAA formation.

Patients with generalized left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) frequently have overlapping conditions which could complicate diagnosis and prognosis. The relative apical sparing pattern (RASP) of left ventricular longitudinal strain (LS) is determined on the strain polar map while measuring global

Positive provoked spasm in the left circumflex artery (LCX) is lower than that in the left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery (RCA).We examined the provoked positive spasm in the LCX between the maximal acetylcholine (ACh) 100 μg period (January 1991 to July 2012, 1474 patients: the former period) and the maximal ACh 200 μg period (August 2012 to August 2018, 336 patients: the latter period). ACh was injected in incremental dose of 20/50/100/200 μg into the left coronary artery and of 20/50/80 μg into the RCA. Positive spasm was defined as at least 90% stenosis and usual chest symptoms or ischemic ECG changes.Provoked positive spasm in the latter period was significantly higher than that in the former period (65.5 vs. 39.1%, P0.001). The positive spasm increase of RCA and left anterior descending artery was 143 and 159%, whereas the increase of LCX was 204%. Multiple-vessel spasm was also increased in the latter period.Maximal ACh dose into the left coronary artery may affect the positive spasm in the LCX and multiplevessel spasm.

We examined the clinical usefulness of sequential spasm provocation tests as follows: first, acetylcholine (ACh) test, second, ergonovine (ER) test, and finally, the ACh test following the ER test.We performed the ACh and ER tests in 461 patients (294 men, 64.4±11.3 years of age) during a 23-year period. In addition, we administered an intracoronary injection of ACh after the ER tests in 240 patients. First, ACh [right coronary artery (RCA): 20/50/(80) μg, left coronary artery (LCA): 20/50/100/(200) μg] was administered incrementally over 20 s. Second, ER (RCA: 40 μg, LCA: 64 μg) was administered over 2-4 min. If a provoked spasm did not occur, we administered an intracoronary injection of ACh (50/80 μg into the RCA and 100/200 μg into the LCA) just after the ER tests. A positive spasm was defined as more than 99% transient luminal narrowing.A positive spasm was observed in 221 (47.9%) patients including 181 ACh-positive (39.3%) and 119 ER-positive (25.8%) patients by the ACh or ER tests. In the 240 patients with a negative spasm in the ACh and ER tests, 48 (10.4%) patients developed provoked spasms on adding ACh after the ER test. The distributions of various cardiac disorders and provoked spasm vessels were similar among the three positive groups. Focal spasm was frequently observed in the ER-positive group, whereas diffuse spasm was frequently obtained in the ACh-positive group and by adding ACh after ER in the positive group. No major complications were recognized during the sequential spasm provocation tests.Sequential spasm provocation tests might overcome a limitation of standard spasm provocation tests.

OBJECTIVE The majority of cardiologists do not perform spasm provocation tests in patients with non-ischemic heart disease (non-IHD) or non-obstructive coronary artery disease (non-ob-CAD). We herein examined the frequency of provoked spasms in non-IHD and non-ob-CAD patients, including those with atypical chest pain (Aty), valvular heart disease (Val), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), congestive heart failure (CHF), and others (Oth). METHODS & RESULTS We performed acetylcholine (ACh) spasm provocation tests over a period of 22 years (1991-2012) among 1,440 patients, including 981 IHD and 459 non-IHD subjects. A total of 43 patients with significant organic stenosis were excluded, and the remaining 416 patients with non-IHD or non-ob-CAD disease were assessed. ACh was injected in incremental doses of 20/50/80 μg into the right coronary artery (RCA) and 20/50/100/(200) μg into the left coronary artery (LCA). Positive coronary spasms were defined as transient luminal narrowing of >99%. Positive coronary spasms were noted in 17.3% of the non-IHDs patients (72/416), compared to 11.4% (15/132), 19% (8/42), 16.7% (5/30), 23.9% (16/67), and 19.3% (28/145), in the patients in the Aty, Val, HCM, CHF, and Oth groups, respectively. The rate of positive provoked spasms was higher in men than women, although not significantly [20.6% (46/223) vs. 13.4% (26/193), ns], and significantly higher in the late period (2001-2012) than in the early period (1991-2000) (36.8% vs. 7.0%, p

We examined the safety of acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER) tests retrospectively and investigated the optimal protocol of provocation test for diagnosis of multivessel coronary spasm. We performed 1546 ACh tests and 1114 ER tests during 23 years. ACh was injected in incremental doses of 20/50/80 μg into the right coronary artery (RCA) and of 20/50/100/200 μg into the left coronary artery (LCA) over 20 s. ER was administered in total doses of 40 μg into the RCA and of 64 μg into the LCA over 2–4 min. When a coronary spasm was induced and did not resolve spontaneously within 3 min after the completion of ACh/ER injection, or when hemodynamic instability due to coronary spasms occurred, 2.5–5.0 mg of nitrate was administered into the responsible vessel. To relive provoked spasm, it is necessary to administer nitrate in 31 cases by ACh and in 76 cases by ER (2.0 vs. 6.8 %, p

As a spasm provocation test of acetylcholine (ACH), incremental dose up (20/50/100 μg) into the left coronary artery (LCA) is recommended in the guidelines established by Japanese Circulation Society. Recently, Ong et al. reported the ACOVA study which maximal ACH dose was 200 μg in the LCA. We compared the angiographic findings between ACH 100 μg and ACH 200 μg in the LCA and also examined the usefulness and safety of ACH 200 μg in Japanese patients without variant angina. As a spasm provocation test, we performed intracoronary injection of ACH 200 μg after ACH 100 μg in 88 patients (55 males, 68.4 ± 11.7 years old) including 59 ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients and 29 non-IHD patients. Positive spasm was defined as >99 % transient stenosis (focal spasm) or 90 % severe diffuse vasoconstriction (diffuse spasm). Positive spasm by ACH 200 μg was significantly higher than that by ACH 100 μg (36 pts: 40.9 % vs. 17 pts: 19.3 %, p < 0.01). Diffuse distal spasm on the left anterior descending artery was more recognized in ACH 200 μg than in ACH 100 μg (30.7 vs. 13.6 %, p < 0.01). In 29 rest angina patients, positive spasm by ACH 200 μg (19 pts) was significantly higher than that by ACH 100 μg (7 pts) (65.5 vs. 24.1 %, p < 0.01). No serious irreversible complications were found during ACH 200 μg. Administration of ACH 200 μg into the LCA was safe and useful. We may reexamine the maximal ACH dose into the LCA.

To survey a water leakage of Unit 3 Primary Containment Vessel hatch in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, a small remotely-operated robot was developed. On this robot a smartphone was mounted as a camera and its body was manufactured by a 3D printer. The feature of this robot is that it has the abilities to pass a narrow crank aisle and to climb a 50 mm high-step which is about half as tall as its overall height. This step-climbing ability resulted from the mount of a climbing nose and a supporting tail, in addition, an improvement of crawlers.

Background: We investigated the complications of spasm provocation tests, including acetylcholine (ACh) tests, ergonovine (ER) tests and adding ACh after ER tests, retrospectively. Methods: We performed 1546 ACh tests and 1114 ER tests during 23 years, including 240 adding ACh after ER tests. ACh (RCA: 20/50/(80) g, LCA: 20/50/100/(200) g) was injected incrementally over 20 seconds, whereas ER (RCA: 40 g, LCA: 64 g) was administered over 2-4 minutes. In addition, we administered adding intracoronary injection of ACh (RCA: 50/80 g, LCA: 100/200 g) after ER tests. Serious major complications were defined as ventricular fibrillation, sustained ventricular tachycardia, shock, severe hypotension (< 60 mmHg), cardiac arrest and cardiac tamponade. Results: Serious major and major complications were higher in ACh tests than ER tests (1.8% vs. 0.4%, p

We examined the sex difference concerning the coronary artery response between ACh and ER in this study. We already reported the difference of coronary response between acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER). We performed both ACh and ER tests of 461 patients (male 294 patients, female 167 patients, mean age 64.4 ± 11.3 years) during 23 years. Positive coronary spasm was defined as >99 % transient luminal narrowing with usual chest pain and/or ischemic ECG changes. Firstly, ACh was administered in incremental doses of 20/50/(80) μg into the RCA and 20/50/100/(200) μg into the LCA over 20 s. Secondly, ER was administered in a total dose of 40 μg into the RCA and of 64 μg into the LCA over 2-4 min. Intracoronary injection of ACh and ER provoked spasm in 221 patients consisting of 160 male patients and 61 female patients. In female patients, the spasm provoked by ACh was almost perfect except in two patients (59 patients, 96.7 %), while ER provoked spasm in only 20 patients (32.8 %). In male patients, provoked spasm by ACh (129 patients, 80.6 %) was significantly higher than ER (97 patients, 60.6 %). As a spasm provocation test, ACh is more sensitive than ER in both sexes and especially in females. We may select two pharmacological agents by sex differences to provoke coronary artery spasm in the cardiac catheterization laboratory in the future.

Objective There are no objective methods for evaluating the severity of vasospasms in patients with refractory coronary spastic angina (R-CSA) under adequate medical therapy. We examined whether spasm provocation tests performed under adequate medication are useful for evaluating the severity of disease in R-CSA patients on emergency admission. Methods and Results We performed spasm provocation tests before and after the administration of medical therapy in eight R-CSA patients, including one ventricular fibrillation survivor (VF-S) and seven patients with unstable angina (UAP) on emergency readmission. We also performed these tests only after medical therapy on urgent admission in four R-CSA patients, including two patients with UAP, one patient with VF-S and one patient with acute coronary syndrome. All 12 R-CSA patients had been medicated with ≥ 2 vasodilator drugs. Positive coronary spasms were defined as >99% transient narrowing. The coronary artery spasms disappeared in three patients under medication, and mitigation of vasospasticity was observed in three patients. In these six cases we continued the same medications. Meanwhile in two patients, we recommended a consultation for psychosomatic medicine. In contrast, the remaining six R-CSA patients exhibited higher levels of vasospasticity, irrespective of the administration of aggressive medical therapy, in which the doses of vasoactive drugs were increased in order to suppress coronary artery spasms. Conclusion In some R-CSA patients on emergency admission, performing spasm provocation tests under medical therapy is useful for determining the subsequent treatment strategy. Therefore, this test may become a new tool in the treatment of R-CSA.

In the clinical grounds, patients with ≥90 % luminal narrowing during acetylcholine (ACh) testing had variable response. We investigated ischemic findings and chest symptoms in patients with ≥90 % luminal narrowing when performing ACh tests, retrospectively. We performed 763 ACh tests over 13 years (2001-2013). We analyzed chest symptoms and positive ischemic ECG changes during ACh tests. More than 90 % luminal narrowing was found in 441 patients (57.8 %) including 355 patients in the right coronary artery (RCA) and 363 patients in the left coronary artery (LCA). Chest symptom was observed in 386 patients (87.5 %) including 293 patients in the RCA and 304 patients in the LCA. ST elevation was found in 161 patients including 110 in the RCA and 85 patients in the LCA, while ST depression was recognized in 146 patients including 119 patients in the RCA and 117 patients in the LCA. Three quarter of patients with ≥90 % luminal narrowing had significant ischemic ECG changes, whereas two-third of patients with ≥90 % luminal narrowing complained usual chest pain accompanied with significant ischemic ECG changes. Unusual chest symptom was complained in 7.3 % patients with ≥90 % luminal narrowing. Neither chest symptom nor ECG changes were found in 30 patients (6.8 %) with ≥90 % luminal narrowing. A third of these patients had ischemic findings on non-invasive tests before catheterization and six patients had subtotal or total occlusion. We should realize some limitation to define positive coronary spasm based on the ischemic ECG change and chest symptom during ACh tests.

To the Editor: The new onset of right bundle branch block (RBBB) was identified as a potent predictor of adverse outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the thrombolytic era ([1][1]). In the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era ([2][2]), well