Volume 106, Issue 1 pp. 464-471
ORIGINAL ARTICLE - CLINICAL SCIENCE

Association Between Vasomotor Response to Ergonovine Provocation Test and Non-Severe Coronary Artery Stenosis

Tae Shik Park

Tae Shik Park

Division of Cardiology, VCU Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

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Woo Jin Ahn

Woo Jin Ahn

National Emergency Medical Center, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

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Byoung Geol Choi

Corresponding Author

Byoung Geol Choi

Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Honam University, Gwangju, Korea

Correspondence: Byoung Geol Choi ([email protected])

Seung-Woon Rha ([email protected])

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Se Yeon Choi

Se Yeon Choi

Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

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Jinah Cha

Jinah Cha

Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

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Sujin Hyun

Sujin Hyun

Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

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Markz R. M. P. Sinurat

Markz R. M. P. Sinurat

Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

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Soohyung Park

Soohyung Park

Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea

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Cheol Ung Choi

Cheol Ung Choi

Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea

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Chang Gyu Park

Chang Gyu Park

Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea

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Dong Joo Oh

Dong Joo Oh

Department of Cardiology, Naeun Hospital, Incheon, Korea

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Seung-Woon Rha

Corresponding Author

Seung-Woon Rha

Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Byoung Geol Choi ([email protected])

Seung-Woon Rha ([email protected])

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First published: 30 April 2025

Tae Shik Park and Woo Jin Ahn contributed equally to this study.

ABSTRACT

Background

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) causes vasospastic angina in patients without significant coronary artery stenosis. However, there has been limited investigation regarding the CAS patterns within this population. This study aims to evaluate the incidence and patterns of CAS in patients with non-severe coronary artery stenosis using intracoronary ergonovine (ERG) provocation test.

Methods

A total of 884 patients experiencing angina with non-severe coronary artery stenosis who underwent intracoronary ERG provocation test between January 2018 and December 2022 were enrolled. Patients were categorized into two groups, based on the severity of coronary artery stenosis: the Non-group (stenosis < 30%, n = 732), and the Mild-to-moderate group (30%−69%, n = 152). Significant CAS was defined as arterial narrowing of ≥ 70%, and vasomotor responses were observed in each group.

Results

The baseline clinical characteristics of the Mild-to-moderate group were worse than the Non-group. They were older with higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and smokers. During the ERG test, CAS was observed in 37.7% of the overall population. The Mild-to-moderate group (54.6%) showed a higher incidence than the Non-group (34.2%, p < 0.001). The Mild-to-moderate group demonstrated odds ratio of 2.31 for CAS compared to the Non-group (95% CI: 1.60−3.33, p < 0.001) even after adjustment.

Conclusions

A considerable number of patients experiencing angina with non-severe coronary artery stenosis were found to have CAS. Moreover, CAS was observed more frequently in patients with mild to moderate coronary artery stenosis compared to those without any fixed stenosis.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Our corresponding authors had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for its integrity and the data analysis.

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