Stable Angina
Stable angina, Prinzmetal angina, and chronic IHD are other clinical manifestations.
What our notes say
- Stable angina, Prinzmetal angina, and chronic IHD are other clinical manifestations. (Heart Disease: Must Knows)
- Clinical manifestations range from stable angina (predictable exertion-induced chest pain) to acute myocardial infarction (cardiomyocyte death from severe ischemia) and sudden cardiac death. (Heart Disease — Must Knows)
- Critical stenosis: >70% occlusion → symptoms with exertion (stable angina); ≥90% → symptoms at rest (Heart Disease — Must Knows)
- Critical stenosis: >70% occlusion of a coronary artery, typically causing symptoms with exertion (stable angina). (Heart Disease: Must Knows)
Study material on Stable Angina
Practice questions on Stable Angina
Which plaque change is MOST directly responsible for converting stable angina to an acute coronary syndrome?
- Progressive accumulation of lipid in the plaque core
- Plaque rupture or erosion with superimposed thrombosis
- Calcification reducing plaque elasticity
- Smooth muscle cell proliferation narrowing the lumen
- Neovascularization within the plaque
Answer: B. - ACS results from **acute plaque disruption** (rupture/erosion) exposing thrombogenic core material → **superimposed thrombus** → sudden flow-limiting or occlusive event ---
Which clinical feature would differentiate a heart attack from stable angina?
- Pain relieved by rest
- Sudden, intense crushing chest pain with associated symptoms
- Pain only with exertion
- Mild discomfort lasting seconds
Answer: B. ** Heart attack presents with sudden, intense crushing or squeezing chest pain, often accompanied by sweating, nausea, and shortness of breath, unlike stable angina which is typically relieved by rest. ---
Which of the following pathological changes in a coronary artery plaque is MOST directly responsible for converting stable angina to an acute coronary syndrome?
- Progressive accumulation of lipid in the plaque core
- Plaque rupture or erosion with superimposed thrombosis
- Calcification reducing plaque elasticity
- Smooth muscle cell proliferation narrowing the lumen
- Neovascularization within the plaque
Answer: B. Plaque rupture or erosion with subsequent superimposed thrombosis is the critical event that converts stable angina into an acute coronary syndrome.