Coronary artery spasm during balloon angioplasty in a patient receiving dopamine infusion

ABSTRACT

A case of severe diffuse coronary artery spasm following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) during an infusion of dopamine at 12 μg/kg/min is reported. Although the incidence is low (0.1% of women undergoing PTCA), the condition required prompt reversal with intraaortic balloon counterpulsation and intravenous nitroglycerin.