Abstract 16001: Recurrent Vasospastic Angina Caused by Electronic Cigarette Usage

Abstract

Introduction: A 45 year old female with a past medical history significant for tobacco use disorder presented for evaluation of substernal pressure with radiation to the left shoulder, nausea, and dizziness. There was no associated shortness of breath, diaphoresis, or palpitations. Her symptoms were not associated with exertion. Hypothesis: The differential diagnosis for this atypical chest pain included unstable angina, microvascular angina, vasospastic angina, Takotsubo syndrome, and anxiety. Methods: An ECG revealed ST-segment elevations in the inferior leads, and an emergent coronary angiography demonstrated no significant atherosclerotic disease. However, her right coronary artery was found to be in vasospasm. Nitroglycerin was administered and relieved her chest pain, and her ECG changes returned to baseline after the episode. This fulfilled COVADIS criteria, and a diagnosis of vasospastic angina was made. Results: The patient was treated with nitroglycerin and a calcium channel blocker. She stopped smoking cigarettes and symptoms did not recur. Five years later, the patient again presented with similar symptoms. She reported that she had recently started smoking electronic cigarettes. The patient was counseled to stop using electronic cigarettes. One month later, the patient reported no further episodes of chest pain. Conclusions: We report a case of vasospastic angina caused by electronic cigarette use. Cardiac toxicity from electronic cigarettes is believed to result from exposure to nicotine as well as other chemicals including synthetic vitamin E, aldehydes, and metals present in electronic cigarettes. Though the concentration of nicotine in the blood of electronic cigarette users is highly variable, some reports describe levels comparable to or higher than those in patients who use paper cigarettes. In this patient, cessation of electronic cigarette smoking was effective in eliminating symptoms of vasospastic angina.