Intractable coronary spastic angina improvement after continuous combined estrogen-progestin hormonal contraception use in a premenopausal woman

Abstract

A 44-year-old woman, who had been previously diagnosed with coronary spastic angina and treated with standard medical therapy including calcium channel blockers, was admitted to our hospital due to chest pain at rest. Her chest pain attacks were concentrated just before and during menstruation. Despite the administration of an intravenous infusion of nitroglycerin and nicorandil, strong heart attacks with ST elevation occurred frequently after this admission. However, following continuous combined estrogen-progestin hormonal contraception use (estradiol plus dienogest), her attacks disappeared completely. Reduced estrogen levels before and during menstruation were speculated to be associated with her angina attacks.