scholarly journals ESC Working Group on Coronary Pathophysiology and Microcirculation position paper on ‘coronary microvascular dysfunction in cardiovascular disease’

2020 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Padro ◽  
Olivia Manfrini ◽  
Raffaele Bugiardini ◽  
John Canty ◽  
Edina Cenko ◽  
...  

  Although myocardial ischaemia usually manifests as a consequence of atherosclerosis-dependent obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease, a significant percentage of patients suffer ischaemic events in the absence of epicardial coronary artery obstruction. Experimental and clinical evidence highlight the abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation as a main cause of myocardial ischaemia in patients with ‘normal or near normal’ coronary arteries on angiography. Coronary microvascular disturbances have been associated with early stages of atherosclerosis even prior to any angiographic evidence of epicardial coronary stenosis, as well as to other cardiac pathologies such as myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure. The main objectives of the manuscript are (i) to provide updated evidence in our current understanding of the pathophysiological consequences of microvascular dysfunction in the heart; (ii) to report on the current knowledge on the relevance of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbid conditions for microcirculatory dysfunction; and (iii) to evidence the relevance of the clinical consequences of microvascular dysfunction. Highlighting the clinical importance of coronary microvascular dysfunction will open the field for research and the development of novel strategies for intervention will encourage early detection of subclinical disease and will help in the stratification of cardiovascular risk in agreement with the new concept of precision medicine.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roos ET van der Meer ◽  
Angela HEM Maas

Ischaemic heart disease has been estimated to affect 126.5 million people globally. Approximately 70% of patients with angina and suspected myocardial ischaemia show no signs of obstructed coronary arteries after coronary angiography, but may still demonstrate ischaemia. Ischaemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is increasingly acknowledged as a serious condition because of its association with poor quality of life and elevated risk for cardiovascular events. The negative effects of psychological stress on INOCA are gaining more attention. Psychological stress is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as mental stress-induced myocardial ischaemia. Psychological stress includes anxiety, depression, anger and personality disturbances. Coronary microvascular dysfunction and coronary arterial spasm are phenotypes of coronary vasomotor disorders that are triggered by psychological distress and depression, thereby increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Coronary vasomotor disorders are often co-existent in INOCA patients and might be considered as a contributing factor to mental stress-associated adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Additionally, psychological stress induces endothelial dysfunction more often in (young) women with INOCA than in men. Overall, many studies demonstrate an association between mental stress, coronary microvascular dysfunction and coronary vasospasm in patients with INOCA – especially women. Future research on stress-reducing therapies that target coronary vasomotor disorders in patients with INOCA is needed. This is particularly the case in young adolescents, in whom this type of ischaemic heart disease is increasing.


2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (20) ◽  
pp. 2099-2105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Tomai ◽  
Flavio Ribichini ◽  
Anna S. Ghini ◽  
Valeria Ferrero ◽  
Giuseppe Andò ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ahmad ◽  
Jaskanwal D Sara ◽  
Michel T Corban ◽  
Takumi Toya ◽  
Ilke Ozcan ◽  
...  

Title: Serum NT-proB-type Natriuretic Peptide is associated with Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients with Angina and Non-obstructive Coronary Artery Disease Authors: Ali Ahmad, MD, Jaskanwal D. Sara, MBChB, Michel T. Corban, MD, Takumi Toya, MD, Ilke Özcan, MD, Lilach O. Lerman, MD PhD, Amir Lerman, MD Introduction: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is prevalent in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Subclinical ischemia and myocardial fibrosis in CMD might raise filling pressure, a hallmark of HFpEF, which induces secretion of NT-proB-type natriuretic peptide (NTpro-BNP). We sought to explore the relationship between CMD and NT-proBNP. Methods: We studied 698 patients with signs and/or symptoms of ischemia and with non-obstructive CAD (<40% angiographic stenosis) who underwent invasive CMD evaluation and had NT-proBNP checked within 6 weeks. CMD was defined as coronary flow reserve (CFR) (hyperemic flow/baseline flow as measured by the doppler wire) of ≤2.5 in response to intracoronary adenosine injection. Results: Overall mean age was 52.8±12.2 years, and women represented 69% of the patients. Log NT-proBNP showed a modest inverse correlation with CFR (Pearson’s R = -0.22, P<0.0001; Figure 1 ), which remained significant after adjusting for age and gender (Standardized ß coefficient = -0.14; P = 0.001). Patients with CMD had higher levels of NT-proBNP than those without (82 [44-190] vs. 62 (33-130], P <0.0001; Figure 2) . Conclusion: Declining coronary microvascular function is correlated with higher NT-proBNP levels. Patients with CMD had higher levels of NT-proBNP, a marker of elevated LV pressure, contributing to the possible role of CMD in early HFpEF pathophysiology. Keywords: Coronary microvascular dysfunction, NT-proBNP


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Recio-Mayoral ◽  
Justin C Mason ◽  
Juan C Kaski ◽  
Michael B Rubens ◽  
Olivier A Harari ◽  
...  

Premature coronary atherosclerosis, which is actually seen as an active inflammatory process, is an established complication of systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesized that exposure to chronic inflammation, even in the absence of classical cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), could result in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), an early marker of coronary atherosclerosis. By means of positron emission tomography in combination with oxygen-15 labeled water, myocardial blood flow (MBF) was measured at rest and during iv adenosine infusion (140 μg/kg/min) in 13 SLE and 12 RA patients (mean [±SD] age 44±10 years) without CVRF. All patients underwent coronary angiography using multi-slice (64 slices) computed tomography and only those with none or trivial coronary artery disease (<30% luminal stenosis) were included. A group of 25 age- and gender-matched controls were also studied. There were no differences between patients and controls regarding body-mass index, blood pressure and lipid parameters. RA and SLE patients showed similar mean disease duration (16±11 and 11±7 years, respectively; p=0.12). Resting MBF was similar in patients and controls (1.25±0.27 vs 1.15±0.24 ml/min/g, p=0.15). However, during adenosine stress patients had lower MBF compared with controls (2.94±0.83 vs 4.11±0.84 ml/min/g, p<0.001). As result, coronary flow reserve (CFR; adenosine/resting MBF) was significantly reduced in patients (2.44±0.78) compared with controls (3.81±1.07; p<0.001). Seven patients showed ischemic electrocardiographic changes during adenosine and had a more severe reduction in CFR (1.76±0.81) and more years of disease (21±7 years) compared with those patients without ischemic changes (CFR 2.49±0.54; p=0.006; duration of disease 14±5 years; p=0.03). CFR was inversely correlated with years of disease (r=−0.65, p<0.001), but not with corticosteroid cumulative dose (r=0.20, p=0.39). Chronic inflammation in the absence of traditional CVRF is characterized by severe CMD. This may represent an early marker of disease which precedes and contributes to premature coronary artery disease in patients with RA and SLE.


Author(s):  
Marcelo F. Di Carli

Myocardial perfusion PET/CT imaging has emerged as a powerful and comprehensive non-invasive approach for the management of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD). The multiparametric PET/CT approach provides quantitative information about the extent and severity of focal and diffuse CAD, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), atherosclerotic burden, and left ventricular function. Contemporary evidence demonstrates that this comprehensive approach is one of the most accurate non-invasive tools for diagnosis, risk prediction, and guiding management in patients with CAD. This chapter summarizes the versatility of the integrated PET/CT scan to provide detailed quantitative information tailored to the patient and clinical question. I then review patient-centred clinical applications using case vignettes to illustrate indications of PET/CT and how to present the findings into clinically actionable information for the practising cardiologist. In each case, I review the available data highlighting the diagnostic and prognostic value of the integrated PET/CT protocol.


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