Racial Differences in Patients with Coronary Vasomotion Disorders

Abstract

Racial differences regarding coronary vasomotion disorders between Caucasian and Japanese populations are controversial. In the past, coronary epicardial spasm was more often recognized in Japanese people than in Caucasian populations. In contrast, coronary microvascular dysfunction is typically observed in Caucasian patients. Japanese cardiologists perform spasm provocation testing actively in patients with unobstructive coronary artery disease, whereas Caucasian cardiologists except for those in some special institutions may skip coronary reactivity testing in the cardiac catheterization laboratory if they encounter patients with unobstructive coronary artery disease. In this review, we present the racial and ethnic disparities in the incidence and clinical characteristics between Caucasian and Japanese populations with coronary vasomotion disorders.