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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
Published on: January 29, 2013
SoutheAsTern eUrope microciRculATION (SATURATION) registry - Design and rationale
Natalija Odanovic1, Konstantinos Tsioufis2, Kyriakos Dimitriadis2
1Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases "Dedinje", Belgrade, Serbia.
Insights
The SoutheAsTern eUrope microciRculATION (SATURATION) registry will investigate how coronary function testing is used in Southeastern Europe. This study aims to improve understanding of coronary microvascular dysfunction and its impact on cardiovascular outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Many patients with ischemic symptoms lack diagnoses due to absence of epicardial stenoses.
- Coronary microvascular and vasomotion disorders are increasingly recognized causes of ischemia.
- Current clinical use of invasive coronary physiology tools remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess regional practices in coronary function testing within Southeastern Europe.
- To investigate patient selection, indications, and procedural aspects of invasive coronary physiology.
- To elucidate the impact of coronary microcirculation on cardiovascular outcomes across different stages of coronary artery disease.
Main Methods:
- The SoutheAsTern eUrope microciRculATION (SATURATION) registry will enroll 1600 patients from 2024-2029.
- Thermodilution technique will be used for microcirculation evaluation.
- Data collection includes patient selection, non-invasive testing, medications, invasive procedures, and treatment changes. Major adverse cardiovascular events and patient-centered outcomes (angina burden, quality of life) will be recorded.
Main Results:
- The registry will provide insights into current invasive coronary physiology assessment practices.
- It will highlight how coronary microcirculation influences outcomes in patients with varying degrees of coronary atherosclerosis.
- Findings will inform understanding of coronary microvascular dysfunction in high-risk populations.
Conclusions:
- The SATURATION registry offers crucial data on invasive coronary physiology in Southeastern Europe.
- This research can enhance the understanding of coronary microvascular dysfunction.
- Potential beneficial interventions for coronary atherosclerosis may be identified.
Background:
A considerable number of symptomatic patients leave the cardiac catheterization lab without a definitive diagnosis for their symptoms because no epicardial stenoses are found. The significance of disorders of coronary microvasculature and vasomotion as the cause of symptoms and signs of ischemia has only recently been appreciated. Today we have a wide spectrum of invasive coronary physiology tools but little is known about when and how these tools are used in clinical practice.
Study Design And Methodology:
SoutheAsTern eUrope microciRculATION (SATURATION) registry will study the regional practice of patient selection for coronary function testing, indications, non-invasive ischemia testing, medications, procedural aspects of invasive physiology evaluation, and treatment changes after testing. The registry is expected to include 1600 patients in participating centers in Southeastern Europe from 2024 to 2029, using the thermodilution technique for evaluation of microcirculation. Major adverse cardiovascular events as well as patient-centered outcomes such as burden of angina and quality of life using Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and EQ-5D-5L will be recorded. The study will include patients with different stages of coronary artery disease (presence of disease or degree of stenosis) to elucidate the effect of coronary microcirculation on the outcomes in this broad group.
Conclusion:
The registry will provide information regarding the current practice of invasive coronary physiology assessment in populations at high cardiovascular risk in Southeastern Europe. This could lead to a better understanding of coronary microvascular dysfunction and its relationship to various degrees of coronary atherosclerosis together with potential interventions that can be beneficial.
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