Heart, Lung and Circulation
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 19-27, February 2009

Advances in Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction

  • John F. Beltrame, FRACP, PhD, FESC, FACC, FCSANZ

      Affiliations

    • Cardiology Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Lyell McEwin Health Service, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Cardiology Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 28 Woodville Rd, Woodville South, SA 5011, Australia. Tel.: +61 8 8222 7632; fax: +61 8 8222 6624.
    • ,
  • Filippo Crea, FESC, FACC

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Paolo Camici, FESC, FACC, FAHA, FRCP

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Sciences Centre & NHLI, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, London, United Kingdom

Considerable focus has been directed towards coronary arterial disease in the management of coronary heart disease, however the coronary microcirculation plays a major role in the regulation of coronary blood flow. Thus while we have multiple medical and revascularisation therapies to treat large vessel coronary artery disease, therapies directed towards the microcirculation are very limited.

This review paper summarises important aspects of coronary microvascular dysfunction including (a) methods of assessment, (b) clinical classification of associated disorders, (c) possible pathophysiological mechanisms, and (d) potential therapies. Hence this will provide important background to advancing our understanding and management of coronary heart disease by targeting the coronary microcirculation.

Keywords: Microcirculation, Syndrome X, Coronary flow reserve, Coronary heart disease

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PII: S1443-9506(08)00947-5

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.11.002

Heart, Lung and Circulation
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 19-27, February 2009

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