[MINOCA and the invasive assessment of the coronary microvascular function]

MINOCA and the invasive assessment of the coronary microvascular function Abstract. Around 10 % of patients undergoing coronary catheterization for acute myocardial infarction show no obstructive lesion of the epicardial vessels. In these cases, for a proper clinical management further anatomical and functional assessments are recommended, so that Myocardial infarctions with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCAs) could be detected according to the current guidelines. On the other hand, investigations could lead to the diagnosis of Takotsubo Syndrome, the pathophysiologic understanding of which remains largely unclear. Since microvascular dysfunction was shown to play a major role in the origin of the disease, intracoronary flow measurements promise to deliver new meaningful pathophysiologic insights in the matter.