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Updated: May 31, 2026
10:03
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
Plasma miR-502-5p and coronary artery vasospasm: An exploratory study
Lucía Matute-Blanco1, Miguel Sánchez-Rodríguez2, Juan Casanova-Sandoval1
1Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Institut Català de la Salut, Lleida, Spain; Cardiac Physiology and Pathology Group, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida Fundació Dr. Pifarré, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain.
Summary
Plasma miR-502-5p shows potential as a biomarker for coronary artery vasospasm (CAV), a condition causing ischemia without obstructive coronary disease. Further validation is needed for this promising diagnostic marker.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Coronary artery vasospasm (CAV) causes myocardial ischemia in patients lacking obstructive coronary disease.
- Current detection methods for CAV are limited by a lack of specific biomarkers.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are investigated as potential circulating biomarkers for CAV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for coronary artery vasospasm (CAV).
- To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma miR-502-5p in patients with suspected CAV.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, multicenter cohort study (ANFIBIO) including 70 patients undergoing coronary vasospasm testing.
- Circulating miRNA profiling using RT-qPCR.
- Statistical analysis including AUC, NRI, and IDI to evaluate miR-502-5p's clinical utility.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between undetectable plasma levels of miR-502-5p and the presence of CAV (60% of patients).
- Plasma miR-502-5p demonstrated exploratory incremental value when added to a clinical model, improving AUC (0.74-0.81) and reclassification metrics (NRI=0.533; IDI=0.079).
- Patients with CAV showed higher use of oral nitrates.
Conclusions:
- Plasma miR-502-5p is associated with CAV in this cohort.
- miR-502-5p shows exploratory potential to enhance clinical models for CAV detection.
- Findings are hypothesis-generating and require validation in larger, independent cohorts.
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