# Coronary Artery Spasm in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

**Authors:** Theodor Iulian Matei, Minerva Codruta Badescu, Alexandru Dan Costache, Ionuț Tudorancea, Ionela Lăcrămioara Șerban, Sandu Cucută, Bianca-Ana Dmour, Raluca Daria Mitea, Radu-George Ciorap, Ciprian Rezus, Irina Iuliana Costache-Enache

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/life16020354 · 2026-02-19

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how coronary artery spasm contributes to heart issues in people with type 2 diabetes and explores ways to improve treatment.

## Contribution

The paper provides a detailed and updated analysis of coronary spasm mechanisms in diabetes patients.

## Key findings

- Coronary artery spasm is a common cause of uncontrolled symptoms in diabetic patients.
- Chronic hyperglycemia leads to structural and functional changes that promote coronary spasm.
- Understanding these mechanisms can help optimize treatment and improve outcomes for diabetic patients.

## Abstract

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus have now reached pandemic proportions, and their association has become very common. Some patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes remain symptomatic, with chest pain present despite the implementation of evidence-based medical treatment and maximal therapy. A hypothesis increasingly confirmed in clinical practice is that epicardial or microvascular spasm, or both, are frequently responsible for the lack of symptom control or for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. Our review provides the most up-to-date and in-depth analysis of the available literature to provide solid knowledge about coronary spasm in diabetes patients. We have deepened the substrate of coronary spasm in relation to the multiple and complex structural and functional abnormalities produced by chronic hyperglycemia, with the ultimate goal of allowing optimization of treatment and improving patient outcomes.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (MONDO:0005148), Cardiovascular disease (MONDO:0004995)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EREG (epiregulin) [NCBI Gene 2069] {aka EPR, ER, Ep}, HTR1D (5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1D) [NCBI Gene 3352] {aka 5-HT1D, HT1DA, HTR1DA, HTRL, RDC4}, HTR1B (5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B) [NCBI Gene 3351] {aka 5-HT-1B, 5-HT-1D-beta, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1DB, HTR1D2, HTR1DB}, ROCK2 (Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 9475] {aka ROCK-II}, IL1A (interleukin 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 3552] {aka IL-1 alpha, IL-1A, IL1, IL1-ALPHA, IL1F1}, CA2 (carbonic anhydrase 2) [NCBI Gene 760] {aka CA-II, CAC, CAII, Car2, HEL-76, HEL-S-282}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, IL10 (interleukin 10) [NCBI Gene 3586] {aka CSIF, GVHDS, IL-10, IL10A, TGIF}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, EDN1 (endothelin 1) [NCBI Gene 1906] {aka ARCND3, ET1, HDLCQ7, PPET1, QME}, MYLK (myosin light chain kinase) [NCBI Gene 4638] {aka AAT7, KRP, MLCK, MLCK1, MLCK108, MLCK210}, ADRB2 (adrenoceptor beta 2) [NCBI Gene 154] {aka ADRB2R, ADRBR, ARB2, B2AR, BAR, BETA2AR}, RNF213 (ring finger protein 213) [NCBI Gene 57674] {aka ALO17, C17orf27, KIAA1618, MYMY2, MYSTR, NET57}, KNG1 (kininogen 1) [NCBI Gene 3827] {aka BDK, BK, HAE6, HK, HMWK, KNG}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, AGT (angiotensinogen) [NCBI Gene 183] {aka ANHU, SERPINA8, hFLT1}, PRRT2 (proline rich transmembrane protein 2) [NCBI Gene 112476] {aka BFIC2, BFIS2, DSPB3, DYT10, EKD1, FICCA}, RHO (rhodopsin) [NCBI Gene 6010] {aka CSNBAD1, OPN2, RP4}, EDNRA (endothelin receptor type A) [NCBI Gene 1909] {aka ET-A, ETA, ETA-R, ETAR, ETRA, MFDA}, ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 family member) [NCBI Gene 217] {aka ALDH-E2, ALDHI, ALDM}, ARHGAP9 (Rho GTPase activating protein 9) [NCBI Gene 64333] {aka 10C, RGL1}, MYH14 (myosin heavy chain 14) [NCBI Gene 79784] {aka DFNA4, DFNA4A, FP17425, MHC16, MYH17, NMHC II-C}, NOS3 (nitric oxide synthase 3) [NCBI Gene 4846] {aka EC-NOS, ECNOS, MYMY8, NOSIII, cNOS, eNOS}
- **Diseases:** spastic (MESH:D009128), injury to (MESH:D014947), Arrhythmic complications (MESH:D008107), Chronic low-grade inflammation (MESH:D007249), Hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), VA (MESH:C563443), anginal pain (MESH:D010146), dyslipidemia (MESH:D050171), ANOCA (MESH:D000088442), ACSs (MESH:D054058), mitochondrial dysfunction (MESH:D028361), Impairment of coronary macro (MESH:D003327), DM (MESH:D003920), endothelial disfunction (MESH:D057215), valvular heart disease (MESH:D006349), ischemic (MESH:D002545), Endothelial Dysfunction (MESH:D014652), stable angina (MESH:D060050), Coronary spasm (MESH:D003329), cardiac arrest (MESH:D006323), Angina (MESH:D000787), CAS (MESH:D001072), arrhythmias (MESH:D001145), obesity (MESH:D009765), hemorrhage (MESH:D006470), refractory angina (MESH:D000069279), chest pain (MESH:D002637), impaired myocardial perfusion (MESH:D009202), Vascular complications (MESH:D003925), stroke (MESH:D020521), sudden cardiac death (MESH:D016757), ischemia (MESH:D007511), LCx stenosis (MESH:D003251), coronary artery stenosis (MESH:D023921), bradycardia (MESH:D001919), epicardial vasospasm (MESH:D020301), Autonomic Nervous System (MESH:D001342), LAD stenosis (MESH:C535887), Microvascular spasm (MESH:D013035), microvascular abnormalities (MESH:D017566), anginal symptoms (MESH:D012816), thrombosis (MESH:D013927), hypertension (MESH:D006973), hyperglycemic (MESH:D006944), occlusion (MESH:D001157), blood (MESH:D006402), sinus pause (MESH:D054138), Atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), acute myocardial infarction (MESH:D009203), Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (MESH:D003929), dilated cardiomyopathy (MESH:D002311), impaired fasting glycemia (MESH:D007003), Cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), ischemic heart disease (MESH:D017202), atrial fibrillation (MESH:D001281), diabetic retinopathy (MESH:D003930), vascular dysfunction (MESH:D002561), ACS (MESH:D000168), neuronal injury (MESH:D009410), Functional abnormalities in peripheral small arteries (MESH:D058729)
- **Chemicals:** cyclic guanosine monophosphate (MESH:D006152), nebivolol (MESH:D000068577), adenosine (MESH:D000241), Nitrates (MESH:D009566), polyol (MESH:C024617), carvedilol (MESH:D000077261), prostaglandins (MESH:D011453), IP3 (MESH:D015544), E (MESH:D004540), AGEs (MESH:D017127), ER (MESH:D004874), ACh (MESH:D000109), prostacyclin (MESH:D011464), NO (MESH:D009569), epicardic (-), bosentan (MESH:D000077300), K+ (MESH:D011188), Fasudil (MESH:C049347), nitroglycerine (MESH:D005996), 18F-FDG (MESH:D019788), prostaglandin E1 (MESH:D000527), malondialdehyde (MESH:D008315), L-arginine (MESH:D001120), Cilostazol (MESH:D000077407), lipid (MESH:D008055), Fluvastatin (MESH:D000077340), Nicorandil (MESH:D020108), atrasentan (MESH:D000077868), alcohol (MESH:D000438), diacylglycerol (MESH:D004075), macitentan (MESH:C533860), glucose (MESH:D005947), serotonin (MESH:D012701), Calcium (MESH:D002118), ROS (MESH:D017382)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** Ala370Ser, rs9349379, T-to-A mutation at nucleotide position -1468, T-786-->C, A-to-G mutation at nucleotide position -922
- **Cell lines:** VSMC — Homo sapiens (Human), Finite cell line (CVCL_4009)

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942413/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942413