Description

Recent data show that 47% of the patients undergoing coronary angiography for angina have no epicardial disease. Of these, 52% have isolated microvascular angina, 17% have isolated vasospastic angina, 20% have both, and 11% have non-cardiac chest pain. These data suggest that microvascular disease is a highly prevalent condition, which might affect as many as 25% of all patients undergoing coronary angiography (without counting patients with acute coronary syndromes and those with mixed epicardial and microvascular disease). Based on an estimate of the Woman´s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study, 3-4 million patients with symptoms of myocardial ischemia have non-obstructive coronary artery disease in the United States of America. These patients represent a significant burden in terms of mortality and morbidity as well as in terms of healthcare costs due to disability, hospitalization, and repeat testing.

Patients with microvascular angina require frequent hospitalizations, undergo repeat invasive procedures, have an impaired quality of life and a poor prognosis, since patients with a high index of microvascular resistances) have a higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.6[0.8-3.4], P<0.001)). An analysis of the WISE study identified an impaired coronary flow reserve in the absence of epicardial disease as the strongest predictor of 5-year adverse events (26.7% versus 12.2%, HR 1.2[1.1.-1.4], P=0.008).

Although its importance is acknowledged by the most recent guidelines, microvascular angina represents a major clinical challenge. In particular, there is a strong disagreement on its classification, on the several mechanisms behind its pathophysiology, and the therapeutic alternatives available remain unsatisfactory.

Despite these uncertainties, there is a consensus that this condition is highly frequent, as it affects up to two-thirds of patients who suffer from stable angina and either have no coronary stenoses at angiography or have combined epicardial and microvascular disease.

The limits of medical therapy Traditional anti-ischaemic drugs are the first step in medical treatment, but their effectiveness is very limited in the setting of microvascular disease. Short-acting nitrates can be used to treat anginal attacks, but since nitrates are only effective on large arteries, this therapy is only indicated for the therapy of patients whose symptoms are caused by spasm of epicardial coronaries, and not for true microvascular angina. Beta-blockers limit myocardial oxygen consumption but do not affect the mechanisms of microvascular disease. Calcium antagonists, have shown variable results in clinical trials, but the limitation of this approach is that a significant heterogeneity exists in the types of calcium channels in the vasculature.

Evidence on the coronary sinus reducer In recent years, the coronary sinus reducer has been introduced to treat refractory angina in patients with refractory angina due to obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and no revascularization options, a situation similar to microvascular disease. This novel therapy is based on the concept that an elevation in backward pressure in the coronary venous system provokes dilatation of the subendocardial arterioles, resulting in a significant reduction of vascular resistance in this area and a redistribution of blood flow to these ischaemic subendocardial layers. Numerous studies confirm the efficacy of the Reducer for patients suffering from angina who are not candidates for revascularization. Preliminary evidence supporting the use of this device in microvascular disease patients also exists, but requires confirmation in a large, randomized trial.

        Subjects presenting at least one of the following criteria will not be enrolled in the
        trial
          -  Recent (within 3 months) acute coronary syndrome
          -  Recent (within 6 months) revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI,
             stent) or coronary artery by-pass surgery (CABG)
          -  Recent (within 30 days) unsuccessful PCI
          -  Decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF) or hospitalization due to CHF during the
             last 3 months
          -  Left ventricular ejection fraction of <30%
          -  Mean right atrial pressure >15mmHg
          -  Anomalous or abnormal CS anatomy (e.g., tortuosity, aberrant branch, persistent left
             superior vena cava [SVC]) as demonstrated by angiogram
          -  CS diameter at the site of planned Reducer implantation greater than 13mm or less than
             9.5mm as measured by angiogram
          -  Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) indicated by a forced expiratory
             volume in one second that is less than 55 percent of the predicted value
          -  Severe valvular heart disease
          -  A pacemaker electrode in the coronary sinus
          -  Tricuspid valve replacement or repair
          -  Chronic renal failure (serum creatinine >2mg/dL), and/or on chronic hemodialysis
          -  Moribund, or with comorbidities limiting life expectancy to less than one year
          -  Known severe reaction to required procedural medications
          -  Known allergy to stainless steel or nickel
          -  Need for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) within 8 weeks after reducer implantation
          -  Contraindication to dual antiplatelet therapy
          -  Female of childbearing potential (last menstruation within the last 12 months or who
             did not undergo tubal ligation, ovariectomy or hysterectomy)