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Regulating myocardial blood flow in health and disease

Henry Gewirtz1

  • 1Nuclear Cardiology/Yawkey 5E, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. hgewirtz@partners.org

Current Cardiology Reports
|February 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Understanding myocardial blood flow regulation is key for clinicians. This review covers normal physiology and disease states to improve diagnosis and treatment of coronary circulation abnormalities.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Myocardial blood flow regulation is complex.
  • Understanding its control mechanisms is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide clinicians with fundamental principles of myocardial blood flow regulation.
  • To review normal physiologic control and disease-related alterations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of classical and contemporary scientific literature.
  • Synthesis of information on myocardial blood flow regulation.

Main Results:

  • Detailed explanation of physiological control mechanisms.
  • Discussion of regulatory alterations in common cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced understanding of myocardial blood flow regulation aids in diagnosing and treating coronary circulation issues.
  • Improved clinical management of ischemic heart disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and heart failure.

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