Ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease: more than meets the eye. 2024

N Patel, and N Greene, and N Guynn, and A Sharma, and O Toleva, and P K Mehta
J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Symptomatic women with angina are more likely to have ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) compared to men. In both men and women, the finding of INOCA is not benign and is associated with adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, heart failure and angina hospitalizations. Women with INOCA have more angina and a lower quality of life compared to men, but they are often falsely reassured because of a lack of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and a perception of low risk. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a key pathophysiologic contributor to INOCA, and non-invasive imaging methods are used to detect impaired microvascular flow. Coronary vasospasm is another mechanism of INOCA, and can co-exist with CMD, but usually requires invasive coronary function testing (CFT) with provocation testing for a definitive diagnosis. In addition to traditional heart disease risk factors, inflammatory, hormonal and psychological risk factors that impact microvascular tone are implicated in INOCA. Treatment of risk factors and use of anti-atherosclerotic and anti-anginal medications offer benefit. Increasing awareness and early referral to specialized centers that focus on INOCA management can improve patient-oriented outcomes. However, large, randomized treatment trials to investigate the impact on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) are needed. In this focused review, we discuss the prevalence, pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis and treatment of INOCA.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007511 Ischemia A hypoperfusion of the BLOOD through an organ or tissue caused by a PATHOLOGIC CONSTRICTION or obstruction of its BLOOD VESSELS, or an absence of BLOOD CIRCULATION. Ischemias
D008297 Male Males
D011788 Quality of Life A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease. HRQOL,Health-Related Quality Of Life,Life Quality,Health Related Quality Of Life
D003324 Coronary Artery Disease Pathological processes of CORONARY ARTERIES that may derive from a congenital abnormality, atherosclerotic, or non-atherosclerotic cause. Arteriosclerosis, Coronary,Atherosclerosis, Coronary,Coronary Arteriosclerosis,Coronary Atherosclerosis,Left Main Coronary Artery Disease,Left Main Coronary Disease,Left Main Disease,Arterioscleroses, Coronary,Artery Disease, Coronary,Artery Diseases, Coronary,Atheroscleroses, Coronary,Coronary Arterioscleroses,Coronary Artery Diseases,Coronary Atheroscleroses,Left Main Diseases
D003331 Coronary Vessels The veins and arteries of the HEART. Coronary Arteries,Sinus Node Artery,Coronary Veins,Arteries, Coronary,Arteries, Sinus Node,Artery, Coronary,Artery, Sinus Node,Coronary Artery,Coronary Vein,Coronary Vessel,Sinus Node Arteries,Vein, Coronary,Veins, Coronary,Vessel, Coronary,Vessels, Coronary
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017202 Myocardial Ischemia A disorder of cardiac function caused by insufficient blood flow to the muscle tissue of the heart. The decreased blood flow may be due to narrowing of the coronary arteries (CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE), to obstruction by a thrombus (CORONARY THROMBOSIS), or less commonly, to diffuse narrowing of arterioles and other small vessels within the heart. Severe interruption of the blood supply to the myocardial tissue may result in necrosis of cardiac muscle (MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION). Heart Disease, Ischemic,Ischemia, Myocardial,Ischemic Heart Disease,Disease, Ischemic Heart,Diseases, Ischemic Heart,Heart Diseases, Ischemic,Ischemias, Myocardial,Ischemic Heart Diseases,Myocardial Ischemias

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