Abstract

In cardiology practice, we often come across patients presenting with anginal pain who undergo coronary angiogram which reveals either normal or non-obstructive epicardial coronaries. Importance is given to epicardial coronaries and the coronary microvasculature which could be the cause of angina is often overlooked. These patients are then labeled to have non-cardiac chest pain and musculoskeletal or psychogenic etiology is suggested. However, with growing interest in coronary microvasculature which are the tiny blood vessels at the tissue level in myocardium, diagnostic modalities and treatment options for coronary microvascular disease are being explored.

Keywords: Microvasular disease; Cardiac syndrome X; Angina with normal coronaries; TIMI perfusion grade; TIMI frame count; Coronary flow reserve

Abbreviations: MI: Myocardial Infarction; STEMI: ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction; CMVD: Coronary Microvascular Disease; CAD: Coronary Artery Disease