[Non-invasive follow-up of adjusted treatment in patients with microvascular angina]. / Seguimiento no invasivo del tratamiento ajustado en pacientes con angina microvascular.

There are currently multiple invasive and non-invasive methods that can be used to establish the diagnosis of microvascular dysfunction (MVD) in patients with INOCA (Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) and microvascular angina. However, we still do not have a specific treatment approach for this group of patients. The current trend is to adjust the treatment to the pathophysiological mechanism involved, adding calcium blockers in those patients where endothelial dysfunction is demonstrated or beta blockers in those patients who present smooth muscle-dependent dysfunction. We present three clinical cases of INOCA with suspected microvascular angina. Two of them underwent a non-invasive diagnosis of MVD by CZT-SPECT, using dipyridamole to evaluate the smooth muscle-dependent mechanism and cold pressor test to evaluate the endothelium-dependent mechanism. According to the results obtained, the treatment was adju sted, clinical follow-up was carried out and angina was assessed using the Seattle scale, with a new microcirculation assessment at 6 months. The third clinical case, on the other hand, was a patient who began empirical treatment for both mechanisms and subsequently abandoned the established treatment. Microvascular function was evaluated under pharmacological treatment and without it.

Actualmente existen múltiples métodos invasivos y no invasivos que pueden emplearse para establecer el diagnóstico de disfunción microvascular (DMV) en pacientes con INOCA (por sus siglas en inglés: Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) y angina microvascular (AMV). No obstante, todavía no contamos con un enfoque de tratamiento específico para este grupo de pacientes. La tendencia act ual es ajustar el tratamiento al mecanismo fisiopatológico implicado, añadiendo antagonistas del calcio en aquellos pacientes en los que se demuestre disfunción endotelial, o bien bloqueadores beta en aquellos que presenten disfunción músculo liso dependiente. Presentamos tres casos clínicos de INOCA con sospecha de AMV. A dos de ellos se les realizó diagnóstico no invasivo de DMV mediante CZT-SPECT, utilizando como apremio dipiridamol para evaluar el mecanismo músculo liso dependiente y test de frío para evaluar el mecanismo endotelio dependiente. Según los resultados obtenidos se ajustó el tratamiento, se realizó seguimiento clínico y valoración de la angina por la escala de Seattle, con nueva valoración de la función microvascular a los 6 meses. El tercer caso clínico, en cambio, es una paciente que inició tratamiento empírico para ambos mecanismos y posteriormente abandonó el tratamiento instaurado, evaluándose la función microvascular bajo tratamiento farmacológico y sin el mismo.

Seguimiento no invasivo del tratamiento ajustado en pacientes con angina microvascular / Non-invasive follow-up of adjusted treatment in patients with microvascular angina

Resumen Actualmente existen múltiples métodos invasivos y no invasivos que pueden emplearse para establecer el diagnóstico de disfunción microvascular (DMV) en pacientes con INOCA (por sus siglas en inglés: Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) y angina microvascular (AMV). No obstante, todavía no contamos con un enfoque de tratamiento específico para este grupo de pacientes. La tendencia act ual es ajustar el tratamiento al mecanismo fisiopatológico implicado, añadiendo antagonistas del calcio en aquellos pacientes en los que se demuestre disfunción endotelial, o bien bloqueadores beta en aquellos que presenten disfunción músculo liso dependiente. Presentamos tres casos clínicos de INOCA con sospecha de AMV. A dos de ellos se les realizó diagnóstico no invasivo de DMV mediante CZT-SPECT, utilizando como apremio dipiridamol para evaluar el mecanismo músculo liso dependiente y test de frío para evaluar el mecanismo endotelio dependiente. Según los resultados obtenidos se ajustó el tratamiento, se realizó seguimiento clínico y valoración de la angina por la escala de Seattle, con nueva valoración de la función microvascular a los 6 meses. El tercer caso clínico, en cambio, es una paciente que inició tratamiento empírico para ambos mecanismos y posteriormente abandonó el tratamiento instaurado, evaluándose la función microvascular bajo tratamiento farmacológico y sin el mismo.

Abstract There are currently multiple invasive and non-invasive methods that can be used to establish the diagnosis of microvascular dysfunction (MVD) in patients with INOCA (Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) and microvascular angina. However, we still do not have a specific treatment approach for this group of patients. The current trend is to adjust the treatment to the pathophysiological mechanism involved, adding calcium blockers in those patients where endothelial dysfunction is demonstrated or beta blockers in those patients who present smooth muscle-dependent dysfunction. We present three clinical cases of INOCA with suspected microvascular angina. Two of them underwent a non-invasive diagnosis of MVD by CZT-SPECT, using dipyridamole to evaluate the smooth muscle-dependent mechanism and cold pressor test to evaluate the endothelium-dependent mecha nism. According to the results obtained, the treatment was adju sted, clinical follow-up was carried out and angina was assessed using the Seattle scale, with a new microcirculation assessment at 6 months. The third clinical case, on the other hand, was a patient who began empirical treatment for both mechanisms and subsequently abandoned the established treatment. Microvascular function was evaluated under pharmacological treatment and without it.

Three-dimensional analysis of interventricular septal curvature from cardiac magnetic resonance images for the evaluation of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Although abnormal septal motion is a well-known sign of increased pulmonary arterial pressures, it is not routinely used to quantify the severity of pulmonary hypertension (PH). This determination relies on invasive measurements or Doppler echocardiographic estimation of right ventricular (RV) pressures, which is not always feasible or accurate in patients with PH. We hypothesized that dynamic 3D analysis of septal curvature from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images may reveal differences between patients with different degrees of PH. Forty-four patients (14 controls; 30 PH patients who underwent right heart catheterization) were studied using CMR and echocardiography. CMR imaging was performed using Philips 1.5T scanner with a phased-array cardiac coil, in a retrospectively gated steady-state free precession cine mode at 30 frames per cardiac cycle. Patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to pulmonary arterial pressure. CMR images were used to reconstruct dynamic 3D left ventricular endocardial surfaces, which were analyzed to calculate septal curvature throughout the cardiac cycle. 3D curvature analysis was feasible in 88% patients. Septal curvature showed different temporal patterns in different groups. Curvature values progressively decreased with increasing severity of PH, and correlated well with invasive pressures (r-values 0.78-0.79), pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.83) and Doppler-derived RV peak-systolic pressure (r = 0.75). 3D analysis of septal curvature from CMR images may become a useful component in the CMR examination in patients with known or suspected PH.