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Inflammation, endothelial cell activation, and coronary microvascular dysfunction in women with chest pain and no

Oscar C Marroquin1, Kevin E Kip, Suresh R Mulukutla

  • 1Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. marroquinoc@upmc.edu

American Heart Journal
|August 9, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Coronary microvascular dysfunction in women with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is not linked to inflammation or endothelial activation. These findings suggest inflammation may not drive this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Inflammation Research

Background:

  • Coronary artery microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is common in women with chest pain and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Elevated inflammatory and endothelial activation markers are observed in patients with chest pain and non-obstructive CAD.
  • The link between inflammation, endothelial activation, and CMD remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between markers of inflammation and endothelial cell activation and coronary flow reserve (CFR) in women with chest pain and non-obstructive CAD.
  • To determine if inflammation or endothelial activation plays a role in the pathophysiology of CMD in this patient group.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the NHLBI WISE study, including 94 women with chest pain and non-obstructive CAD.
  • Assessed catheterization-based coronary flow reserve (CFR).
  • Measured serum levels of inflammatory markers (e.g., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-18) and endothelial activation markers (e.g., soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1).

Main Results:

  • Coronary flow reserve (CFR) showed no significant correlation with any measured inflammatory or endothelial activation markers.
  • Median levels of these markers did not differ between women with abnormal CFR and those with normal coronary microvascular function.
  • Multivariable analyses confirmed no association between inflammation/endothelial activation markers and CFR.

Conclusions:

  • Coronary microvascular dysfunction in women with chest pain and without obstructive CAD is not associated with systemic markers of inflammation or endothelial cell activation.
  • These findings suggest that inflammation and endothelial activation may not be key players in the development of CMD in this specific population.
Abstract

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