What is variant angina pectoris (Prinzmetals angina)?
Variant angina pectoris is also called Prinzmetal’s angina. It differs from typical angina in that it occurs almost exclusively when a person is at rest, and it doesn’t follow a period of physical exertion or emotional stress. Attacks can be very painful and usually occur between midnight and 8 a.m. It’s associated with: • acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). • severe cardiac arrhythmias. These may include ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. • sudden cardiac death.Variant angina is due to coronary artery spasm. About two-thirds of people with it have severe coronary atherosclerosis in at least one major vessel. The spasm usually occurs very close to the obstruction. Many people with Prinzmetal’s angina go through an acute, active phase. Anginal and cardiac events may occur frequently for six months or more. During this time, nonfatal myocardial infarction occurs in up to 20 percent of patients; death occurs in up to 10 percent. People who develop serious heart rhythm distu
