Clinical application of multi-detector computed tomography coronary angiography and global longitudinal strain for diagnosis of multi-vessel coronary artery spasm: case reports

Diagnosis of epicardial coronary artery spasm, which is considered the cause of vasospastic angina, can be achieved through the coronary angiography (CAG) with a pharmacologic provocation test. However, this procedure is thought to have a potential risk of complications. Although multi-detector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCTA) is proposed as the alternative test for the diagnosis of spastic coronary artery, myocardial ischaemia does not always coincide with coronary artery stenosis. MDCTA combined with echocardiographic left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) is an innovative non-invasive diagnostic method expected to detect multivessel coronary artery spasm in patients with vasospastic angina.

We report two cases of vasospastic angina caused by multivessel coronary artery spasm, which were confirmed using MDCTA and echocardiographic LV GLS.

In patients with suspected vasospastic angina, MDCTA and echocardiographic LV GLS during spontaneous attacks could be used to document the coronary artery vasospasm and associated myocardial ischaemia. These non-invasive diagnostic techniques could be considered a new alternative for patients with suspected vasospastic angina who exhibit certain characteristics, such as nitrate-responsive and resting chest pain and no history of significant coronary atherosclerosis. This approach may be particularly useful when these patients present to the emergency department during a spontaneous vasospasm.