Coronary microvascular dysfunction: Phenotype-specific targeted therapies

Gianluca Mincione1, Matteo Maurina2, Alice Benedetti3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, South Holland, the Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; Department of Cardiology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

Insights

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is frequently underdiagnosed and lacks effective treatments. This review details its pathology and associated syndromes to guide tailored diagnosis and therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a significant clinical challenge.
  • It is often underdiagnosed, leading to delayed or inappropriate patient management.
  • Limited therapeutic options currently exist for CMD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of coronary microvascular dysfunction pathology.
  • To correlate CMD with specific linked syndromic presentations.
  • To propose tailored diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CMD based on its clinical associations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on CMD pathology and clinical manifestations.
  • Analysis of syndromic presentations associated with CMD.
  • Synthesis of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Detailed description of the underlying pathophysiology of CMD.
  • Identification of key syndromic patterns linked to CMD.
  • Outline of evidence-based diagnostic criteria and treatment modalities.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding CMD pathology and its syndromic links is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
  • Personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies can improve outcomes for patients with CMD.
  • Further research is needed to expand therapeutic options for this condition.

Related Concept Videos

Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care01:27

Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care

Interprofessional care for coronary artery disease includes pharmacological therapy and revascularization procedures.Pharmacological therapy for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) aims to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve patient outcomes through various classes of medications:Antiplatelet Agents:Aspirin and Clopidogrel: These medications inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing blood clots, which is crucial for avoiding heart attacks and strokes. Doctors often prescribe these...
30
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
250
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists01:18

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
223
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
250
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
505