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Lopez-Candales A, Sawalha K, Asif T. Nonobstructive epicardial coronary artery disease: an evolving concept in need of diagnostic and therapeutic guidance. Postgrad Med 2024; 136:366-376. [PMID: 38818874 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2024.2360888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
For decades, we have been treating patients presenting with angina and concerning electrocardiographic changes indicative of ischemia or injury, in whom no culprit epicardial coronary stenosis was found during diagnostic coronary angiography. Unfortunately, the clinical outcomes of these patients were not better than those with recognized obstructive coronary disease. Improvements in technology have allowed us to better characterize these patients. Consequently, an increasing number of patients with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) or myocardial infarction in the absence of coronary artery disease (MINOCA) have now gained formal recognition and are more commonly encountered in clinical practice. Although both entities might share functional similarities at their core, they pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Unless we become more proficient in identifying these patients, particularly those at higher risk, morbidity and mortality outcomes will not improve. Though this field remains in constant flux, data continue to become available. Therefore, we thought it would be useful to highlight important milestones that have been recognized so we can all learn about these clinical entities. Despite all the progress made regarding INOCA and MINOCA, many important knowledge gaps continue to exist. For the time being, prompt identification and early diagnosis remain crucial in managing these patients. Even though we are still not clear whether intensive medical therapy alters clinical outcomes, we remain vigilant and wait for more data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Lopez-Candales
- Cardiovascular Medicine Division University Health Truman Medical Center, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Khalid Sawalha
- Cardiometabolic Fellowship, University Health Truman Medical Center and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, USA
| | - Talal Asif
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Health Truman Medical Center and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
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Zdravkovic M, Popadic V, Klasnja S, Klasnja A, Ivankovic T, Lasica R, Lovic D, Gostiljac D, Vasiljevic Z. Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Hypertension: A Bond More Important than We Think. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:2149. [PMID: 38138252 PMCID: PMC10744540 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59122149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a clinical entity linked with various risk factors that significantly affect cardiac morbidity and mortality. Hypertension, one of the most important, causes both functional and structural alterations in the microvasculature, promoting the occurrence and progression of microvascular angina. Endothelial dysfunction and capillary rarefaction play the most significant role in the development of CMD among patients with hypertension. CMD is also related to several hypertension-induced morphological and functional changes in the myocardium in the subclinical and early clinical stages, including left ventricular hypertrophy, interstitial myocardial fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. This indicates the fact that CMD, especially if associated with hypertension, is a subclinical marker of end-organ damage and heart failure, particularly that with preserved ejection fraction. This is why it is important to search for microvascular angina in every patient with hypertension and chest pain not associated with obstructive coronary artery disease. Several highly sensitive and specific non-invasive and invasive diagnostic modalities have been developed to evaluate the presence and severity of CMD and also to investigate and guide the treatment of additional complications that can affect further prognosis. This comprehensive review provides insight into the main pathophysiological mechanisms of CMD in hypertensive patients, offering an integrated diagnostic approach as well as an overview of currently available therapeutical modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Zdravkovic
- Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.Z.); (S.K.); (A.K.); (T.I.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (R.L.); (D.G.); (Z.V.)
| | - Viseslav Popadic
- Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.Z.); (S.K.); (A.K.); (T.I.)
| | - Slobodan Klasnja
- Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.Z.); (S.K.); (A.K.); (T.I.)
| | - Andrea Klasnja
- Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.Z.); (S.K.); (A.K.); (T.I.)
| | - Tatjana Ivankovic
- Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.Z.); (S.K.); (A.K.); (T.I.)
| | - Ratko Lasica
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (R.L.); (D.G.); (Z.V.)
- Clinic of Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragan Lovic
- Clinic for Internal Diseases Inter Medica, 18000 Nis, Serbia;
- School of Medicine, Singidunum University, 18000 Nis, Serbia
| | - Drasko Gostiljac
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (R.L.); (D.G.); (Z.V.)
- Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorana Vasiljevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (R.L.); (D.G.); (Z.V.)
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