Abnormal reflex vasoconstriction to cold stimulation in forearm of patients with variant angina.

The responses of the blood vessels of the forearm to cold pressor test and mental stress were examined in patients with variant angina and in control subjects. In response to cold pressor test, blood pressure, heart rate and forearm vascular resistance increased with statistical significance in both groups. Percentage changes in blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly different in patients and control subjects. Percentage change in forearm vascular resistance in patients with variant angina (120 +/- 101%) was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) than that in control subjects (47 +/- 26%). In response to mental stress, percentage change in forearm vascular resistance was -20 +/- 19% in patients with variant angina and -24 +/- 18% in control subjects and there was no significant difference in the two groups. We conclude that, in some patients with variant angina, not only the coronary artery but the forearm vessels show the abnormal reflex vasoconstriction and it may be postulated that it represents the generalized abnormality of vascular smooth muscle or of their neural control which exists in some patients with variant angina.