Abnormal Coronary Reactivity in Women with Ischemic Symptoms

Microvascular and epicardial coronary dysfunctions were seen in an observational study.

Many women with myocardial ischemia have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) by angiography, but often abnormal coronary reactivity is found. To understand long-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes in such women, the authors prospectively investigated microvascular and epicardial coronary reactivity in 224 women with signs and symptoms of ischemia (179 with minimal or no CAD) who participated in the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation study.

Microvascular dysfunction was determined by examining coronary flow reserve (CFR) and coronary blood flow (CBF), and epicardial reactivity was assessed by determining coronary dilatory response to intracoronary acetylcholine and nitroglycerin. Over a median follow-up of 9.7 years, 129 events oc…

Reviewing Author

Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, FACC

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBoehringer Ingelheim; Amgen; Novartis; Lilly; Amarin

Speaker’s BureauBoehringer Ingelheim

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsCirculation (Associate Editor)