Abstract
The responses of the blood vessels of the forearm to cold pressor test and mental stress were examined in patients with variant angina and in control subjects.
In response to cold pressor test, blood pressure, heart rate and forearm vascular resistance increased with statistical significance in both groups. Percentage changes in blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly different in patients and control ubjects. Percentage change in forearm vascular resistance in patients with variant ngina (120±101%) was significantly greater (p<0.05) than that in control subjects 47±26%). In response to mental stress, percentage change in forearm vascular resistence was -20±19% in patients with variant angina and -24±18% in control subjects and there was no significant difference in the two groups.
We conclude that, in some patients with variant angina, not only the coronary artery but the forearm vessels show the abnormal reflex vasoconstriction and it may be ostulated that it represents the generalized abnormality of vascular smooth muscle or of their neural control which exists in some patients with variant angina.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.