Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Filippo Crea, Rocco A. Montone, Riccardo Rinaldi
Summary: Ischemic heart disease is commonly caused by coronary artery disease, but a significant number of patients may experience angina or myocardial infarction even without significant coronary artery stenosis. Coronary microvascular dysfunction has been identified as a relevant cause, involving functional and structural changes in the coronary microcirculation. Modifiable risk factors play a role in the pathogenesis, and further research is needed to develop precision medicine strategies.
CIRCULATION JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Andreas Seitz, Valeria Martinez Pereyra, Astrid Hubert, Karin Klingel, Raffi Bekeredjian, Udo Sechtem, Peter Ong
Summary: This study found that coronary spasm is a common finding in patients with biopsy-proven viral myocarditis, supporting the hypothesis that it may contribute to chest pain in these patients. The study also observed a particular association between PVB19 infection and microvascular spasm.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Hernan Mejia-Renteria, Alejandro Travieso, Jordi A. Matias-Guiu, Miguel Yus, Carolina Espejo-Paeres, Francesca Finocchiaro, Sara Fernandez, Carlos Ignacio Gomez-Escalonilla, Blanca Reneses-Prieto, Maria Dulcenombre Gomez-Garre, Alfonso Delgado-Alvarez, Ana Bustos, Leopoldo Perez de Isla, Jose Juan Gomez de Diego, Javier Modrego-Martin, Adriana Ortega-Hernandez, Petros Papadopoulos, Juan Arrazola-Garcia, Jorge Matias-Guiu, Javier Escaned
Summary: This study reveals the correlation between coronary microcirculatory dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), as well as cognitive impairment.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Abdul-Quddus Mohammed, Fuad A. Abdu, Lu Liu, Guoqing Yin, Redhwan M. Mareai, Ayman A. Mohammed, Yawei Xu, Wenliang Che
Summary: In the past decade, there has been increasing emphasis on understanding and managing myocardial infarction (MI) with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). MINOCA is characterized by an acute MI but no significant coronary artery obstruction. It is estimated to affect 6-10% of MI patients and has a poor prognosis. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a key factor in the development and management of MINOCA, and a systematic diagnostic approach and personalized patient management strategies have shown promising results in improving symptoms and outcomes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Filippo Crea, Rocco A. Montone
Summary: This article provides updated evidence on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) across different cardiovascular diseases, aiming to pave the way for further research and the development of novel strategies for a precision medicine approach.
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Hiroki Teragawa, Chikage Oshita, Yuko Uchimura
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of myocardial bridging (MB) on coronary artery and microvascular function in patients with ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA). The results suggest that MB predisposes patients to coronary spasm but has a limited effect on microvessels.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nazanin Rajai, Ali Ahmad, Takumi Toya, Jaskanwal D. Sara, Joerg Herrmann, Lilach O. Lerman, Amir Lerman
Summary: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with a higher risk of cancer incidence in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery diseases (NOCADs). This study found that 34% of NOCADs patients had CMD, and CMD was independently associated with cancer occurrence.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ming-Jui Hung, Chi-Tai Yeh, Nicholas G. Kounis, Ioanna Koniari, Patrick Hu, Ming-Yow Hung
Summary: Although heart failure can worsen over time, some cases can be reversed with appropriate treatments. Coronary artery spasm is becoming the most frequent cause of heart failure worldwide, but it is often under appreciated and misdiagnosed. It can lead to various complications such as syncope, arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemic syndromes. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent these complications. This review focuses on the epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology, and management of patients with coronary artery spasm-related heart failure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Hiroki Teragawa, Yuko Uchimura, Chikage Oshita, Yu Hashimoto, Shuichi Nomura
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the results of the spasm provocation test (SPT) in the right coronary artery (RCA) and left coronary artery (LCA). The results showed no significant differences in diagnosing vasospastic angina (VSA) and SPT-related complications between the two groups, but the frequency of multivessel spasm (MVS) was higher in the LCA group.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Beata Franczyk, Jill Dybiec, Weronika Frak, Julia Krzeminska, Joanna Kucmierz, Ewelina Mlynarska, Magdalena Szlagor, Magdalena Wronka, Jacek Rysz
Summary: This review focuses on the main pathophysiological mechanisms of coronary artery spasm (CAS), including endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, smooth muscle hypercontractility, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and mutations leading to deficient ALDH2 activity. These findings offer novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of CAS and may guide the development of diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases in the future.
Review
Physiology
Maarten M. Brandt, Caroline Cheng, Daphne Merkus, Dirk J. Duncker, Oana Sorop
Summary: The article discusses the role of coronary microvasculature in regulating myocardial perfusion and oxygen demand, outlining both short-term and chronic flow regulation mechanisms. It explores the molecular mechanisms and cardiovascular risk factors influencing microvascular function and structure alterations.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Matthew Ryan, Holly Morgan, Mark C. Petrie, Divaka Perera
Summary: Patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy are often excluded from randomized trials of revascularization in stable coronary artery disease, with coronary artery bypass grafting considered the primary mode of revascularization. There is currently no randomized controlled trial evidence supporting percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rami S. Najjar, Arielle M. Schwartz, Brett J. Wong, Puja K. Mehta, Rafaela G. Feresin
Summary: Ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is a common diagnosis with a higher prevalence in women, associated with major adverse cardiovascular outcomes and angina. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a major feature, driven by inflammatory and oxidative stress signaling, and treatment focuses on addressing cardiovascular risk factors. Potential treatment options include berry-derived polyphenols to modulate these pathways, with future clinical trials needed to investigate their effectiveness in INOCA patients with CMD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ashley S. Manchanda, Alan C. Kwan, Mariko Ishimori, Louise E. J. Thomson, Debiao Li, Daniel S. Berman, C. Noel Bairey Merz, Caroline Jefferies, Janet Wei
Summary: Chest pain is a common symptom in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and approximately half of these patients are suspected to have coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). It is crucial to assess cardiovascular risk and diagnose possible CMD in these patients.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marco Giuseppe Del Buono, Rocco A. Montone, Massimiliano Camilli, Salvatore Carbone, Jagat Narula, Carl J. Lavie, Giampaolo Niccoli, Filippo Crea
Summary: CMD encompasses multiple pathogenetic mechanisms involving coronary micro-circulation and plays a major role in myocardial ischemia in patients with angina without obstructive coronary artery disease, as well as in various other cardiovascular conditions. Despite the lack of specific treatment, further research is needed to provide personalized therapies for this diverse group of patients.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Antonia Camporeale, Francesco Moroni, Davide Lazzeroni, Silvia Garibaldi, Maurizio Pieroni, Federico Pieruzzi, Paola Lusardi, Marco Spada, Renzo Mignani, Alessandro Burlina, Francesca Carubbi, Laura Econimo, Yuri Battaglia, Francesca Graziani, Silvia Pica, Kelvin Chow, Paolo G. Camici, Massimo Lombardi
Summary: This study used cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to analyze the complexity of myocardial trabeculae in Fabry cardiomyopathy. The results showed that the fractal dimensions of the trabeculae increased with the progression of the disease. The fractal dimensions were significantly correlated with T1 values, left ventricular mass, trabecular mass, and the Mainz Severity Score Index. This suggests that increased myocardial trabeculation is an early sign of cardiac involvement in Fabry cardiomyopathy.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
C. Noel Bairey Merz, Eduardo Marban
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Correction
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Raffaella Calabretta, Aurora Kokomani, Carlo Fumagalli, Iacopo Olivotto, Paolo G. Camici, Marcus Hacker, Roberto Sciagra
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Raffaella Calabretta, Aurora Kokomani, Carlo Fumagalli, Iacopo Olivotto, Paolo G. Camici, Marcus Hacker, Roberto Sciagra
Summary: This study analyzed the myocardial perfusion in AHCM patients and found that the microvascular impairment was more severe in the apical region, potentially associated with future aneurysmatic evolution.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Enrico Ammirati, Laura Lupi, Matteo Palazzini, Nicholas S. Hendren, Justin L. Grodin, Carlo Cannistraci, Matthieu Schmidt, Guillaume Hekimian, Giovanni Peretto, Thomas Bochaton, Ahmad Hayek, Nicolas Piriou, Sergio Leonardi, Stefania Guida, Annalisa Turco, Simone Sala, Aitor Uribarri, Caroline M. Van de Heyning, Massimo Mapelli, Jeness Campodonico, Patrizia Pedrotti, Maria Isabel Barrionuevo Sanchez, Albert Ariza Sole, Marco Marini, Maria Vittoria Matassini, Mickael Vourc'h, Antonio Cannata, Daniel Bromage, Daniele Briguglia, Jorge Salamanca, Pablo Diez-Villanueva, Jukka Lehtonen, Florent Huang, Stephanie Russel, Francesco Soriano, Fabrizio Turrini, Manlio Cipriani, Manuela Bramerio, Mattia Di Pasquale, Aurelia Grosu, Michele Senni, Davide Farina, Piergiuseppe Agostoni, Stefania Rizzo, Monica De Gaspari, Francesca Marzo, Jason M. Duran, Eric D. Adler, Cristina Giannattasio, Cristina Basso, Theresa McDonagh, Mathieu Kerneis, Alain Combes, Paolo G. Camici, James A. de Lemos, Marco Metra
Summary: The prevalence of acute myocarditis (AM) in COVID-19 patients is estimated to be between 2.4 and 4.1 per 1000 hospitalized patients. Most cases of AM occur in the absence of pneumonia and are often complicated by hemodynamic instability.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Doralisa Morrone, Francesco Gentile, Alberto Aimo, Matteo Cameli, Andrea Barison, Maria Elena Picoi, Marco Guglielmo, Angelo Villano, Antonio DeVita, Giulia Elena Mandoli, Maria Concetta Pastore, Francesco Barilla, Massimo Mancone, Roberto Pedrinelli, Ciro Indolfi, Pasquale Perrone Filardi, Saverio Muscoli, Isabella Tritto, Luca Bergamaschi, Carmine Pizzi, Paolo G. Camici, Mario Marzilli, Filippo Crea, Raffaele De Caterina, Gianluca Pontone, Danilo Neglia, Gaetano A. Lanza
Summary: The latest guidelines emphasize the importance of noninvasive imaging for selecting patients for further invasive angiography. In addition to coronary stenosis, other mechanisms such as vasospasm, microvascular disease, and energetic inefficiency have been shown to be important. Therefore, a pathophysiology-driven treatment approach has become a crucial objective, and multimodality imaging can provide deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Judy M. Luu, Janet Wei, Chrisandra L. Shufelt, Anum Asif, Benita Tjoe, Paul Theriot, C. Noel Bairey Merz
Summary: This survey reveals heterogeneity in the management of ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease among US cardiologists, supporting the need for guideline development and highlighting knowledge gaps in therapeutic management and research education for this condition.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Carl J. Pepine, C. Noel Bairey Merz
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Silvia Pica, Gabriele Crimi, Serenella Castelvecchio, Vittorio Pazzanese, Anna Palmisano, Massimo Lombardi, Lara Tondi, Antonio Esposito, Pietro Ameri, Claudia Canale, Alberto Cappelletti, Luca P. Alberti, Davide Tavano, Rita Camporotondo, Ilaria Costantino, Jenness Campodonico, Gianluca Pontone, Alessandra Villani, Gianluca Pio Gallone, Rocco A. Montone, Giampaolo Niccoli, Paola Gargiulo, Bruna Punzo, Marco Vicenzi, Stefano Carugo, Lorenzo Menicanti, Giuseppe Ambrosio, Paolo G. Camici
Summary: This study investigated the presence of left ventricular (LV) remodelling after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. The results showed that LV remodelling in the subacute phase may not be detrimental, but rather a compensatory response associated with improved LV ejection fraction (EF) at follow-up. However, LV remodelling accompanied by an increase in end-systolic volume index (LV-REMESV) was associated with a decrease in LV-EF, driven by the infarct size.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mario Gaudino, Stephen E. Fremes, Roxana Mehran, C. Noel Bairey Merz
Review
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Paul Marano, Janet Wei, C. Noel Bairey Merz
Summary: This article reviews recent research progress related to coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and its association with multiple cardiovascular disease processes. CMD is prevalent in patients with signs and symptoms of ischemia and no obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease (INOCA), particularly in women. CMD is associated with adverse outcomes, including the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, in various patient populations. Stratified medical therapy based on invasive coronary function testing can improve symptoms in patients with INOCA.
CURRENT ATHEROSCLEROSIS REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sadiya S. Khan, Lucia C. Petito, Xiaoning Huang, Katharine Harrington, Rebecca B. McNeil, Natalie A. Bello, C. Noel Bairey Merz, Eliza C. Miller, Rupa Ravi, Christina Scifres, Janet M. Catov, Victoria L. Pemberton, Jasmina Varagic, Phyllis C. Zee, Lynn M. Yee, Mitali Ray, Jin Kyung Kim, Abbi D. Lane-Cordova, Jennifer Lewey, Lauren H. Theilen, George R. Saade, Philip Greenland, William A. Grobman
Summary: This study found a significant association between early pregnancy obesity and postpartum hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes risk. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were related to increased incidence of postpartum hypertension and hyperlipidemia. However, these adverse pregnancy outcomes only partially mediated the association between early pregnancy obesity and postpartum hypertension.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
E. Ammirati, F. Raimondi, N. Piriou, S. A. Mohiddin, M. Imazio, G. Aquaro, I. Olivotto, C. M. Van De Heyning, G. Peretto, M. Merlo, S. Klaassen, W. Poller, E. D. Adler, P. G. Camici, L. T. Cooper
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
M. Gulati, N. Khan, M. George, C. Berry, A. Chieffo, P. G. Camici, F. Crea, J. -C. Kaski, M. Marzilli, C. N. B. Merz
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maggie Wang, Nare Torosyan, C. Noel Bairey-Merz, Janet Wei, Chrisandra L. Shufelt
Summary: Resident education on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) significantly improved internal medicine residents' knowledge and attitudes towards CR, which also led to a modest increase in referral rates.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
