[Vasomotor disorders in the atherosclerotic coronary artery. Are there practical repercussions today?].

The 1980s have brought increasing evidence that coronary vasomotricity has a major role in the pathophysiology of stable angina pectoris. Specifically, it has been shown that mediators such as serotonin have opposite effects on normal and atherosclerotic coronary arteries, resulting in vasodilation and increased coronary blood flow in the former and vasoconstriction with decreased flow in the latter. Other studies have shown that, even in patients with stable angina, coronary vaso-constriction is likely to trigger clinical episodes of angina. In this regard, the adjunction of coronary vasodilator medications to medications reducing myocardial demand might prove useful in patients with stable angina.