Endotyping-informed therapy for patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease: a randomized

Conor P Bradley1,2, Gemma McKinley3, Vanessa Orchard2

  • 1British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

Nature Medicine
|November 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided management improved chest pain diagnosis and quality of life in patients with unobstructed coronary arteries. This approach reclassified diagnoses in over half of participants, significantly enhancing their health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Many patients with chest pain lack obstructive coronary artery disease, leaving diagnoses uncertain.
  • Functional diagnostic tests are often not used in these cases.
  • Stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can assess myocardial blood flow and detect coronary microvascular dysfunction but lacks randomized trial evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical utility of adenosine stress cardiovascular MRI-guided management.
  • To determine if this approach improves angina and health-related quality of life in patients with chest pain and unobstructed coronary arteries.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled superiority trial involving 250 patients.
  • Patients were randomized 1:1 to either stress cardiovascular MRI-guided management or standard care.
  • The primary outcome was the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) summary score at 12 months.

Main Results:

  • The diagnostic study's primary outcome (reclassification of diagnosis) was met in 53.0% of patients.
  • The intervention group showed significantly higher SAQ summary scores at 12 months (70.9 vs. 52.1).
  • Improvements were also noted in the EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaire.

Conclusions:

  • Endotyping-informed therapy using stress cardiovascular MRI revised diagnoses in over half of patients with chest pain and unobstructed coronary arteries.
  • This strategy significantly improved angina symptoms and health-related quality of life.
  • Adenosine stress cardiovascular MRI-guided management is clinically effective for this patient group.

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