The Great Masquerader: Vasospastic Angina Mimicking Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

TL;DR

This paper presents a case where vasospastic angina mimicked severe coronary artery disease, highlighting the importance of functional testing in diagnosing heart conditions with non-obstructive arteries.

Contribution

The case emphasizes the coexistence of CMD and VSA as a clinically significant and under-recognized condition in patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries.

Findings

Intracoronary acetylcholine testing confirmed vasospastic angina in a patient with non-obstructive coronary arteries.

The patient exhibited reduced coronary flow reserve and elevated microcirculatory resistance, indicating CMD.

Functional coronary assessment is crucial for identifying mixed endotypes and guiding targeted therapy.

Abstract

A significant proportion of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography for angina have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). In such patients, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and vasospastic angina (VSA) represent key pathophysiological mechanisms. We report a case of a 58-year-old male with exertional chest pain and exercise ECG changes typical of left main or multivessel CAD. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) showed borderline stenosis of the distal left main coronary artery. Coronary angiography revealed no critical stenosis. A comprehensive functional assessment demonstrated reduced coronary flow reserve (CFR = 2.0) and an elevated index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR = 25), consistent with CMD. An intracoronary acetylcholine provocation test induced severe focal vasospasm of the mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD) with ST-segment elevation and anginal pain, promptly relieved by nitroglycerin, confirming VSA. This case highlights the diagnostic and clinical importance of invasive functional testing in patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA/INOCA). The coexistence of CMD and VSA (two distinct but overlapping pathophysiological endotypes) is increasingly recognized as a marker of adverse prognosis. Functional coronary assessment should be considered in all patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries, as identifying mixed endotypes enables precise, mechanism-guided therapy.

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