Coronary Spasm Producing Coronary Thrombosis and Myocardial Infarction

Abstract
THE pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction has been a subject of considerable discussion, as indicated in two recent reviews.1 , 2 The respective roles of coronary thrombosis and coronary spasm are unclear. It has been suggested that coronary spasm may lead to infarction,3 4 5 6 7 8 and a recent report demonstrated the presence of coronary thrombosis at catheterization six hours after the onset of infarction in a patient with variant angina.9 However, conclusive proof that coronary spasm can lead to infarction, with or without thrombosis, has not been reported. This article describes the occurrence of coronary spasm leading to thrombosis, with development of myocardial infarction. . . .