Women With Chest Pain and no Significant Coronary Artery Stenosis; A Study on Microvascular Resistance

Summary

Female patients presenting with persistent chest pain despite no obstructive coronary artery disease have impaired prognosis. Stress tests are often positive or inconclusive. As much as 20% of women with chest pain and minimal angiographic CAD have evidence of myocardial ischemia, suggesting impaired coronary microcirculation. The index of microvascular resistance (IMR) is a method for indirectly investigating microvascular function in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. 66 female patients, age 30-70 years, with chest pain and "normal" or near normal coronary angiograms will be included. After coronary physiologic evaluation, patients will be randomized in a double blind study to rosuvastatin 20 mg/day or matching placebo tablets for altogether 6 months. The investigators hypothesize that: 1. A substantial number of women with chest pain and normal or minimal pathology on angiograms have microvascular dysfunction defined by a raised IMR. 2. Statins, based on its pleiotropic action will improve endothelial function and thereby IMR.

Timeline

Start

2012-06

Primary completion

2016-06

Completion

2016-06

Publications

• Solberg OG, Stavem K, Ragnarsson A, Beitnes JO, Skardal R, Seljeflot I, Ueland T, Aukrust P, Gullestad L, Aaberge L. Index of microvascular resistance to assess the effect of rosuvastatin on microvascular function in women with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease: A double-blind randomized study. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2019 Nov 1;94(5):660-668. doi: 10.1002/ccd.28157. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

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Indications