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Microvascular Coronary Dysfunction—an Overview

  • Coronary Heart Disease (S. Virani and S. Naderi, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

We will review the available data on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of microvascular coronary dysfunction (MCD).

Recent Findings

The study of MCD was pioneered by the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) cohort. New techniques in the diagnosis of this condition, using invasive and noninvasive means, are helping to increase awareness of this condition as well as ways in which to treat it.

Summary

Microvascular coronary disease without epicardial involvement has become an increasingly recognized cause of cardiac chest pain, particularly in women. Dysfunction of the microvasculature related to endothelium-dependent and endothelial-independent factors likely results in symptoms and/or evidence of ischemia. Although there is a growing body of research, there is still much about MCD that we do not understand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Sahar Naderi

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  1. Sahar Naderi
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Correspondence to Sahar Naderi.

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Sahar Naderi declares no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Coronary Heart Disease

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Naderi, S. Microvascular Coronary Dysfunction—an Overview. Curr Atheroscler Rep 20, 7 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-018-0710-5

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