Perivascular nerve lesion of the coronary artery involved in spasm in a patient with variant angina

Pathology. 1989 Oct;21(4):304-7. doi: 10.3109/00313028909061079.

Abstract

An autopsy case of a 52-year-old man with typical variant angina is reported. He had recurrent attacks of chest pain at rest, particularly from midnight to early morning, associated with ST segment elevation in the electrocardiogram. At autopsy, degenerative changes and fibrosis were confirmed light microscopically in the perivascular nerves of the coronary artery involved in spasm. This finding indicates an intimate relationship between coronary spasm and the autonomic nervous system.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angina Pectoris, Variant / etiology*
  • Angina Pectoris, Variant / pathology
  • Coronary Vasospasm / complications
  • Coronary Vasospasm / pathology*
  • Coronary Vessels / innervation*
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System / pathology*