[Exercise-induced ST segment shift in vasospastic angina with special reference to comparisons between treadmill and bicycle ergometer exercise testings].

To assess the difference between cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise (TM) and those to bicycle ergometer exercise (EM) in provoking coronary spasm, we compared the ST segment shifts (elevation or depression) during TM and EM in 67 patients with vasospastic angina. Coronary artery spasm was demonstrated on angiography. Both TM and EM were performed on the same day during a medication-free period. For both tests, multistage, symptom-limited exercise protocols were used; EM in the morning and TM in the afternoon. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Rate-pressure products at peak exercise during TM and EM were similar. Systolic blood pressure levels at peak exercise were higher during EM than during TM (p < 0.01). The patients' heart rates at peak exercise were higher during TM than during EM (p < 0.01). Diastolic blood pressure levels at peak exercise were higher during EM than during TM (p < 0.05). 2. Exercise-induced ST elevation occurred more frequently with TM than with EM (19% vs 9%, p < 0.05). 3. Exercise-induced ST depression was provided in 27 patients during TM and in 13 during EM (40% vs 19%, p < 0.01). Among 45 patients without significant lesions, ST depression occurred in 19 during TM, but in only 7 during EM (42% vs 16%, p < 0.01). In conclusion, coronary spasm seemed to occur more frequently with TM than with EM. The mechanism causing such difference remains to be elucidated, however, we speculate that the difference between TM and EM as to enhanced autonomous nervous system activity and coronary perfusion exercise may be related to the difference in the incidence of coronary spasm.