Recent developments in microvascular angina

Microvascular angina (Syndrome X) is an extremely heterogeneous clinical entity that is the product of genetic, coronary microvascular, metabolic, and clinical factors, which combine together to produce distinct cardiac manifestations and complications. The interactions of these abnormalities remain poorly understood. The diagnosis is considered in patients with anginal symptoms and no epicardial coronary narrowing. Therapy is also problematic, with beta-blockers as first-line pharmacotherapy followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.