ABSTRACT

Dr. Maseri and his group were studying the phenomenon of coronary vasospasm-sudden, total obstruction of human cor­ onary arteries due to intense constriction of the muscle cells in the walls of the arteries. They were studying this phenomenon both in the relatively small number of patients who have it in its purest form in which it occurs only in the resting state (this is termed “ Prinzmetal’s angina” after the Los Angeles cardiologist who discovered it), as well as in the much more numerous patients with common exertion-related angina. The unique­ ness of their studies resulted from their comprehensive use of very sophisticated techniques to monitor their patients’ car­ diac function.