Prinzmetal's angina is also known as which type of angina?

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Multiple Choice

Prinzmetal's angina is also known as which type of angina?

Prinzmetal's angina is defined by chest pain from transient coronary vasospasm, causing brief episodes of ischemia that often occur at rest (sometimes at night or in the early morning). Because this pattern arises from vasospasm rather than a fixed atherosclerotic narrowing, it is classically described as a variant form of angina. During an episode, the ECG characteristically shows transient ST-segment elevation, reflecting transmural ischemia, which helps distinguish it from exertional, fixed-plaque angina. In contrast, stable angina is triggered by exertion and due to a fixed obstruction, atypical angina refers to nonclassic symptom presentations, and “nitrate-responsive angina” is not the standard label for this condition. Thus, the best name for this condition is variant angina.

Prinzmetal's angina is defined by chest pain from transient coronary vasospasm, causing brief episodes of ischemia that often occur at rest (sometimes at night or in the early morning). Because this pattern arises from vasospasm rather than a fixed atherosclerotic narrowing, it is classically described as a variant form of angina. During an episode, the ECG characteristically shows transient ST-segment elevation, reflecting transmural ischemia, which helps distinguish it from exertional, fixed-plaque angina. In contrast, stable angina is triggered by exertion and due to a fixed obstruction, atypical angina refers to nonclassic symptom presentations, and “nitrate-responsive angina” is not the standard label for this condition. Thus, the best name for this condition is variant angina.

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