Stable Angina, The Most Common Form Of Angina Pectoris, Is Caused By

Stable Angina, The Most Common Form Of Angina Pectoris, Is Caused By

• A. Lipid-Rich Atheromas
• B. Thrombi Overlying Partially Ruptured Atheromas
• C. Stenosis Of Coronary Arteries
• D. Ruptured Atheromas

Answer: (C)

Stable angina arises from fixed narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerotic stenosis, which limits blood flow when the heart’s demand for oxygen rises. During exertion, heart rate and contractility increase, so the coronary circulation must deliver more blood. A fixed, narrowed vessel can’t dilate enough to meet that higher demand, leading to transient myocardial ischemia and chest pain. This is different from acute events driven by plaque rupture and thrombosis, which cause unstable angina or myocardial infarction. Lipid-rich plaques contribute to the development of stenosis but by themselves do not explain the predictable, exertion-related symptoms of stable angina; the key mechanism is the fixed luminal narrowing that reduces flow reserve.

Stable angina arises from fixed narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerotic stenosis, which limits blood flow when the heart’s demand for oxygen rises. During exertion, heart rate and contractility increase, so the coronary circulation must deliver more blood. A fixed, narrowed vessel can’t dilate enough to meet that higher demand, leading to transient myocardial ischemia and chest pain. This is different from acute events driven by plaque rupture and thrombosis, which cause unstable angina or myocardial infarction. Lipid-rich plaques contribute to the development of stenosis but by themselves do not explain the predictable, exertion-related symptoms of stable angina; the key mechanism is the fixed luminal narrowing that reduces flow reserve.