POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF VARIANT ANGINA

The diagnosis of coronary vasospasm in chronic vasospastic angina is e stablished by the history of typical nocturnal angina pectoris with ra pid relief after sublingual nitroglycerin, concomitant ST-segment elev ation on the electrocardiogram and a recent normal coronary angiogram, True vasospasm may subsequently be confirmed on a coronary angiogram, either spontaneously or by provokation with acethylcholine. The autho rs show a case of acute vasospasm induced by a cold presser test in a 40-year-old man who had onset variant angina, Transient reduction of r egional myocardial perfusion, angina pectoris at rest, and ST-segment elevation solved after administration of nitroglycerin.