Is Variant Angina the Coronary Manifestation of a Generalized Vasospastic Disorder?

Abstract

IN VARIANT angina, myocardial ischemia is caused by transient coronary-arterial spasm.^{1 , 2} Although altered adrenergic activity has been proposed as the cause of coronary spasm^{3 , 4} and high circulating thromboxane levels are found in patients with variant angina, ⁵ the true cause of the syndrome is unknown.The prodromal phase of migraine is caused by inappropriate vasoconstriction of cranial arteries, ^{6 , 7} and enzymatic markers of cerebral ischemia can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid after an attack.⁸ As in variant angina, abnormal platelet function has been described in migraine.^{9 , 10} In spite of a variety of known triggering factors, the cause of migraine has not . . .