Stress Testing in Women

2018 ◽  
pp. 473-491
Author(s):  
Puja K. Mehta ◽  
Ijeoma Isiadinso ◽  
L. Samuel Wann

The chapter Stress Testing in Women reviews the clear sex-specific differences in the presentation and pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Women tend to have more atypical and more subtle symptoms such as dyspnea or fatigue than men. Symptomatic women are also more likely to have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary angiography, but still have adverse clinical outcomes. Coronary microvascular dysfunction. Exercise testing is frequently the first test of choice to diagnose IHD in women. When resting electrocardiogram abnormalities precludes exercise testing or exercise testing is inconclusive, stress imaging with echocardiography or myocardial perfusion imaging can be added. Routine stress testing is designed to detect flow-limiting, obstructive CAD. When stress imaging is negative or “falsely positive” in a symptomatic patient, nonobstructive causes of IHD including coronary microvascular dysfunction should be considered.

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.


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


Author(s):  
Romana Herscovici ◽  
C. Noel Bairey Merz

The role of revascularization in the treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease is well established, and its impact on improving survival has been proven. Nevertheless, patients with signs and symptoms considered of cardiac origin but with no obstructive coronary artery disease on coronary angiography are increasingly seen. Initially described as a ‘paradox’ or cardiac syndrome X and subsequently defined as microvascular angina, angina-like chest pain and evidence of ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease, is the consequence of altered coronary microvascular response to various stimuli despite non-obstructed epicardial vessels.


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