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Updated: Jan 28, 2026
Isolation of Mouse Coronary Endothelial Cells
Published on: July 3, 2016
Coronary endothelial function testing may improve long-term quality of life in subjects with microvascular coronary
Martin Reriani1,2, Andreas J Flammer1, Jessica Duhé1
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Diagnosing and treating coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary artery disease significantly improves quality of life. This contrasts with patients exhibiting normal endothelial function, highlighting a key therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Angina pectoris without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is prevalent and linked to diminished quality of life (QOL).
- Coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction is a frequent cause of myocardial ischemia and angina in patients with non-obstructive CAD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that evaluating, diagnosing, and treating coronary endothelial function favorably impacts QOL in patients experiencing angina symptoms and non-obstructive CAD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 457 patients with chest pain and non-obstructive coronary arteries underwent coronary vascular reactivity evaluation using intracoronary acetylcholine.
- Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 survey after a mean follow-up of 8.4 years.
- Patients were stratified based on diagnosis and treatment of microvascular endothelial dysfunction versus normal endothelial function.
Main Results:
- Patients diagnosed and treated for microvascular endothelial dysfunction reported significantly better mental composite scores (44.8 vs 40.9, p=0.036) and mental health scores (44.2 vs 40.7, p=0.047).
- A trend towards improved vitality scores (39.1 vs 35.9, p=0.053) and role emotional scores (43.6 vs 40.4, p=0.073) was observed in the treated group.
- These improvements in QOL were compared to patients with normal endothelial function.
Conclusions:
- In patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries, the diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction are associated with enhanced QOL.
- This finding is significant for patients with angina pectoris and non-obstructive CAD, suggesting a targeted approach to improve patient outcomes.
Aim:
Angina pectoris in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is common and is associated with poor quality of life (QOL). Coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction is associated with myocardial ischaemia and is a common cause of angina. We hypothesise that evaluation of coronary endothelial function, its diagnosis and treatment will favourably impact QOL in patients with angina symptoms and non-obstructive CAD.
Methods And Results:
Follow-up was done on 457 patients with chest pain and non-obstructive coronary arteries who had undergone coronary vascular reactivity evaluation by administration of intracoronary acetylcholine at the time of diagnostic study. After a mean follow-up of 8.4±4.7 years, QOL was assessed by administration of the SF-36 QOL survey. Patients diagnosed and treated for microvascular endothelial dysfunction had a higher (better) overall mental composite score (44.8 vs 40.9, p=0.036) and mental health score (44.2 vs 40.7, p=0.047), and a trend towards higher vitality scores (39.1 vs 35.9, p=0.053) and role emotional scores (43.6 vs 40.4, p=0.073), compared with patients with normal endothelial function.
Conclusion:
Among patients with chest pain and normal coronaries, diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction in those with angina pectoris and non-obstructive CAD are associated with better QOL compared with patients with normal endothelial function.
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