Angina pectoris is usually caused by myocardial ischemia dueto atherosclerotic narrowing of the epicardial coronary arteries,with or without local vasoconstriction or a superimposed thrombus,that limits the supply of blood to the myocardium. This leadsto the stimulation of pain receptors that trigger the patient'sperception of anginal symptoms (see Figure). Therefore, whena physician cares for a patient with chest pain whose coronaryanatomy is unknown, the main question is whether the symptomsare due to coronary atherosclerosis. This question is relevantfor two reasons. First, atherosclerotic heart disease is thechief cause of death in . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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Cardiac Syndrome X
Huang M.-H., Ewy G. A., Bassan M., Collins A., Pennell D. J., Panting J. R., Collins P., Panza J. A.
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N Engl J Med 2002;
347:1377-1379, Oct 24, 2002.
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