ACC/AHA 2002 guideline update for the management of patients with chronic stable angina--summary article: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on the Management of Patients With Chronic Stable Angina)

Nitrates as an integral part of optimal medical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation for stable angina: review of current concepts and therapeutics

The goals of optimal medical therapy in patients with stable angina pectoris are to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and future cardiovascular events, improve exercise capacity, and enhance quality of life. Whereas myocardial revascularization is frequently employed in the management of patients with stable angina, a variety of pharmacologic interventions are recommended as part of optimal medical management. The use of short- and rapidly-acting nitrates (eg, sublingual nitroglycerin spray and tablets) is at the core of the therapeutic armamentarium and should be integrated into optimal medical therapy for stable angina along with exercise therapy. The potential clinical implications from these observations are that prophylactic sublingual nitrates, when combined with cardiac rehabilitation, may allow the patient with angina to exercise to a greater functional capacity than without sublingual nitrates.

Coronary CT and the coronary calcium score, the future of ED risk stratification?

Accurate and efficient evaluation of acute chest pain remains clinically challenging because traditional diagnostic modalities have many limitations. Recent improvement in non-invasive imaging technologies could potentially improve both diagnostic efficiency and clinical outcomes of patients with acute chest pain while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations. However, there is still controversy regarding much of the evidence for these technologies. This article reviews the role of coronary artery calcium score and the coronary computed tomography in the assessment of individual coronary risk and their usefulness in the emergency department in facilitating appropriate disposition decisions. The evidence base and clinical applications for both techniques are also described, together with cost- effectiveness and radiation exposure considerations.

CT of coronary heart disease: Part 2, Dual-phase MDCT evaluates late symptom recurrence in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients after revascularization

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study was to investigate dual-phase MDCT for assessing obstructive lesions and the extent and severity of the subtending myocardium at risk in patients presenting with chest pain syndromes 9 or more months after having undergone revascularization for the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dual-phase 64-MDCT was performed on 135 patients with recurring chest symptoms 9 months or more after revascularization (mean ± SD, 23 ± 11 months after index invasive angiogram for treatment of STEMI). Obstructive lesions (≥ 50% stenosis) were detected by MDCT angiography and the extent of myocardium at risk was detected by delayed phase 3D myocardium maps. A myocardium at-risk score based on MDCT findings was defined as the extent of myocardium at risk governed by the coronary lesion and weighted by lesion severity. Results were compared with stress-redistribution (201)Tl-SPECT and invasive angiography.

RESULTS

In restenotic, new, progressive, and previously obstructive lesions that are not currently progressive, analysis of assessable segments (1966/2025, 97.1%) obtained true-positive detection rates of 88.1%, 88.6%, 82.9%, and 100%, respectively; false-negative detection rates were 5.3%, 1.6%, 2.9%, and 8.8%. In 124 patients (91.9%) in whom all segments were assessable, the MDCT-based myocardium at-risk score correlated with the SPECT-based summed difference score (SDS) (r = 0.841, p < 0.001). For detecting SPECT-based SDS ≥ 1 and SDS > 3, areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the MDCT-based myocardium at-risk score were 0.874 (95% CI, 0.805-0.942) and 0.938 (95% CI, 0.895-0.981), with optimal cutoff values of 2.68 and 5.01, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Dual-phase MDCT is useful in detecting different patterns of obstructive lesions and the extent of myocardium at risk as an alternative for therapeutic planning in patients presenting with late symptoms after treatment for acute myocardial infarction.

Cardiac rehabilitation outcomes: impact of comorbidities and age

PURPOSE

Medical comorbidities (CM) contribute to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) underutilization. Whether individuals with coronary heart disease and an increased CM burden achieve similar benefits from CR as those with a low CM burden is unknown.

METHODS

We analyzed 794 patients with coronary heart disease completing CR from 1/96 to 4/08. Medical CM burden was assessed using a comorbidity index (CMI) previously validated in a CR population. Distance achieved on a 6-minute walk test, body mass index, and the physical and mental component scores on the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 were measured at baseline and at CR completion. We performed multivariable linear regression to compare changes in these parameters between individuals with a low CM burden (CMI = 0) and those with a moderate (CMI = 1-2) or high (CMI > 2) CM burden by age group (<56, 56-65, and >65 years of age).

RESULTS

Mean age was 61.6 ± 10.6 years, 29% were women, 31% nonwhite; 305 individuals had a CMI = 0, 305 had a CMI = 1 to 2, and 184 had a CMI > 2. All subgroups, regardless of age or CMI, demonstrated improvements with CR on virtually all parameters measured. Among individuals younger than 56 years, those with a CMI = 0 had greater improvements in these parameters after multivariable adjustment than those with a CMI of 1 to 2 or more than 2. In contrast, in older age groups, the degree of improvement was similar regardless of CMI.

CONCLUSION

All patient groups, regardless of CM burden, benefited from CR. Medical CM burden, especially among older patients, should not discourage referral to CR.

Spinal cord stimulation for refractory angina pectoris -a case report-

Refractory angina pectoris is defined as angina refractory to optimal medical treatment and standard coronary revascularization procedures. Despite recent therapeutic advances, patients with refractory angina pectoris are not adequately treated. Spinal cord stimulation is a minimally invasive and reversible technique which utilizes electrical neuromodulation by means of an electrode implanted in the epidural space. It has been reported to be an effective and safe treatment for refractory angina pectoris. We report a case of spinal cord stimulation which has effectively relieved chest pain due to coronary artery disease in a 40-year-old man. This is the first report of spinal cord stimulation for treatment of refractory angina pectoris in South Korea.

Extreme sensitivity and the practical implications of risk assessment thresholds

Traditional risk-assessment theory assumes the existence of a threshold for non-cancer health effects. However, a recent trend in environmental regulation rejects this assumption in favor of non-threshold linearity for these endpoints. This trend is driven largely by two related concepts: (1) a theoretical assumption of wide-ranging human sensitivity, and (2) inability to detect thresholds in epidemiologic models. Wide-ranging sensitivity assumes a subpopulation with extreme background vulnerability, so that even trivial environmental exposures are hazardous to someone somewhere. We use examples from the real world of clinical medicine to show that this theoretical assumption is inconsistent with the biology of mammalian systems and the realities of patient care. Using examples from particulate-matter air-pollution research, we further show that failure to reject linearity is usually driven by statistical rather than biological considerations, and that nonlinear/threshold models often have a similar or better fit than their linear counterparts. This evidence suggests the existence of practical, real-world thresholds for most chemical exposures.

Impact of a new ultrafast CZT SPECT camera for myocardial perfusion imaging: fewer equivocal results and lower radiation dose

PURPOSE

The new ultrafast cardiac single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) cameras with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT)-based detectors are faster and produce higher quality images as compared to conventional SPECT cameras. We assessed the need for additional imaging, total imaging time, tracer dose and 1-year outcome between patients scanned with the CZT camera and a conventional SPECT camera.

METHODS

A total of 456 consecutive stable patients without known coronary artery disease underwent myocardial perfusion imaging on a hybrid SPECT/CT (64-slice) scanner using either conventional (n = 225) or CZT SPECT (n = 231). All patients started with low-dose stress imaging, combined with coronary calcium scoring. Rest imaging was only done when initial stress SPECT testing was equivocal or abnormal. Coronary CT angiography was subsequently performed in cases of ischaemic or equivocal SPECT findings. Furthermore, 1-year clinical follow-up was obtained with regard to coronary revascularization, nonfatal myocardial infarction or death.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. With the CZT camera, the need for rest imaging (35 vs 56%, p < 0.001) and additional coronary CT angiography (20 vs 28%, p = 0.025) was significantly lower as compared with the conventional camera. This resulted in a lower mean total administered isotope dose per patient (658 ± 390 vs 840 ± 421 MBq, p < 0.001) and shorter imaging time (6.39 ± 1.91 vs 20.40 ± 7.46 min, p < 0.001) with the CZT camera. After 1 year, clinical outcome was comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

As compared to images on a conventional SPECT camera, stress myocardial perfusion images acquired on a CZT camera are more frequently interpreted as normal with identical clinical outcome after 1-year follow-up. This lowers the need for additional testing, results in lower mean radiation dose and shortens imaging time.

Prognostic significance of the complex "Visceral Adiposity Index" vs. simple anthropometric measures: Tehran lipid and glucose study

BACKGROUND

Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has recently been suggested to be used as a surrogate of visceral adiposity. We examined if VAI could improve predictive performances for CVD of the Framingham's general CVD algorithm (a multivariate model incorporating established CVD risk factors). We compared the predictive abilities of the VAI with those of simple anthropometric measures i.e. BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) or waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR).

DESIGN AND METHODS

In a nine-year population-based follow-up, 6,407 (2,778 men) participants, free of CVD at baseline, aged≥30 years were eligible for the current analysis. The risk of CVD was estimated by incorporating VAI, BMI, WHpR, and WHtR, one at a time, into multivariate accelerated failure time models.

RESULTS

We documented 534 CVD events with the annual incidence rate (95%CIs) being 7.3 (6.4-8.3) among women and 13.0 (11.7-14.6) among men. Risk of future CVD increased with increasing levels of VAI among both men and women. VAI was associated with multivariate-adjusted increased risk of incident CVD among women. However, the magnitude of risk conferred by VAI was not significantly higher than those conferred by BMI, WHpR, or WHtR. Among men, after adjustment for established CVD risk factors, VAI was no longer associated with increased risk of CVD. VAI failed to add to the predictive ability of the Framingham general CVD algorithm.

CONCLUSIONS

Using VAI instead of simple anthropometric measures may lead to loss of much information needed for predicting incident CVD.

Rationale, design, and goals of the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium (ACIC): A Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan collaborative quality improvement project

BACKGROUND

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an emerging noninvasive anatomical method for evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Multicenter clinical registries are key to efforts to establish the role of CCTA in CAD diagnosis and management. The Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium (ACIC) is a statewide, multicenter collaborative quality initiative with the intent to establish quality and appropriate use of CCTA in Michigan.

METHODS

The ACIC is sponsored by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/Blue Care Network, and its 47 sites include imaging centers that offer CCTA and meet established structure and process standards for participation. Patients enrolled include those with suspected ischemia with or without known CAD, and individuals across the entire spectrum of CAD risk. Patient demographics, history, CCTA scan-related data and findings, and 90-day follow-up data are entered prospectively into a centralized database with strict validation tools and processes. Collaborative quality initiatives include radiation dose reduction and appropriate CCTA use by education and feedback to participating sites and referring physicians.

CONCLUSIONS

Across a wide range of institutions, the ACIC permits evaluation of "real-world" utilization and effectiveness of CCTA and examines an alternative, nontraditional approach to utilization management wherein physicians and payers collaborate to address the growing problem of cardiac imaging overutilization.

[Conservative therapy of patients with stable coronary heart disease]

The main treatment goals of conservative treatment of patients with stable coronary heart disease are prevention of symptoms, prevention of myocardial infarction, and heart failure and reduction of mortality. Lifestyle changes (smoking cessation, physical activity) are essential to reduce risk factors. For symptomatic treatment and prevention of angina pectoris, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, I((f)) (funny channel) blockers and ranolazine are effective. Cornerstones of pharmacological prevention are drugs with prognostic effects, specifically aspirin and statins, as well as treatment of co-existing disorders such as hypertension and diabetes.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on the Efficacy of Di'ao Xinxuekang Capsule and Isosorbide Dinitrate in Treating Angina Pectoris

Objective. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on di'ao xinxuekang capsule (XXK) in treating angina pectoris were published only in Chinese and have not been systematically reviewed particularly for comparing XXK with isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN). This study aims to provide a comprehensive PRISMA compliant and internationally accessible systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacies of XXK and ISDN in treating angina pectoris. Methods. The RCTs published between 1989 and 2011 on XXK and ISDN in treating angina pectoris were selected according to specific criteria. Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the symptomatic (SYMPTOMS) and electrocardiographic (ECG) improvements after treatment. Odds ratios (OR) were used to measure effect sizes. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and metaregression were conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results. Results. Seven RCTs with 550 participants were eligible. Overall ORs for comparing XXK with ISDN were 4.11 (95% CI :  2.57, 6.55) in SYMPTOMS and 2.37 (95% CI : 1.46, 3.84) in ECG. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and metaregression found no significant dependence of overall ORs upon specific study characteristics. Conclusion. The meta-analysis of eligible but limited RCTs demonstrates that XXK seems to be more effective than ISDN in treating angina pectoris. Further RCTs of high quality are warranted to be conducted for update of the results of this meta-analysis.

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Clinical Practice — Implications of the ONTARGET Study

Hypertension and cardiovascular disease remain the major causes of premature morbidity and mortality. Following a diagnosis of hypertension, treatment with antihypertensive medication will almost invariably be lifelong. Even when prescribed treatment, many patients remain above blood pressure goals, and this is particularly common in patients at high risk of cardiovascular events due to the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes mellitus. An important cause of this failure is medication nonadherence, which is particularly common with treatments that have side-effects. Antihypertensive drugs do not make the patient feel better in the short term, but side-effects often occur immediately. The ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) is highly relevant to clinical practice because it demonstrated that the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan is as effective as the proven angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril in preventing cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, while being better tolerated. Evidence of the advantages of telmisartan in the management of cardiovascular morbidity suggest, therefore, that it might be a better treatment option for hypertensive patients and that switching to generic ARBs may not always be best.

Cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality attributable to diabetes: Tehran lipid and glucose study

AIM

To quantify the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and all-cause mortality attributable to diabetes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Data on an 8.6-yr follow-up of 6331 participants (2741 men), free of CVD at baseline, were analyzed to determine the burden of CVD and all-cause mortality attributable to self-reported and screen-detected diabetes mellitus (SRDM and SDDM, respectively). Risks of events of interest were separately assessed for women and men using Cox-proportional-hazard model.

RESULTS

The mean age at baseline was 47 yr with 997 (15.7%) of participants having diabetes (men 14.8%, women 16.5%). SRDM and SDDM prevailed in 9.7% (men 9.2, women 10.2%) and 6.0% of participants (men 5.7, women 6.3%), respectively. During follow up (52,404 person-yr), we observed 447 incident cases of CVD [387 had coronary heart disease (CHD)] and 209 deaths. Among men, participants with SDDM had increased relative hazard for all-cause mortality translated to a population attributable risk fraction (PAF) of 10.1%. Among women, SDDM was associated with CVD and CHD but not with all-cause mortality; so that 9.3% and 8.8% of CVD and CHD events were respectively attributable to the SDDM. If SRDM had been eliminated from the population, the incidences of CVD, CHD, and death would have decreased by 10.5, 9.5, and 17.3% in men; and 22.0, 24.2, and 17.8% in women, respectively.

CONCLUSION

SDDM and SRDM have high PAF for all-cause mortality and CVD. Besides diabetes treatment and prevention, screening to detect undiagnosed diabetes should warrant high priority among the public health strategies to lower the incidence of CVD and mortality.

An Overview on Coronary Heart Disease (A Comparative Evaluation of Turkey and Europe) and Cost-effectiveness of Diagnostic Strategies

OBJECTIVE

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for men and women in Turkey as it is in Europe and US. The prevalence of the disease is 3.8% in Turkey and 200,000 patients are added to the pool of CHD annually Because of genetic predisposition and high proportions of physical inactivity, smoking habit, and obesity, CHD is encountered in earlier ages in our country So, the economic burden of the disease is expected to be relatively high, but the amount of health expenditure is not always parallel to the prevalence of a disease in the community. This article was written to overview CHD statistics to make a comparison between Turkey and some European countries and to investigate the value of myocardial perfusion scan (MPS) as a gatekeeper in diagnosing CHD before invasive coronary angiography (ICA). The consequences were evaluated for Turkey In diagnosis; noninvasive testing gains importance in connection with the new approaches in treatment strategies, because a direct ICA strategy results in higher rates of revascularization without improvement in clinical outcomes. A "gatekeeper" is needed to select the patients who are not required to undergo angiography. MPS with its proved power in diagnosis and predicting prognosis, provides a cost-effective solution, and is accepted in some extensive analyses as a "gatekeeper" particularly in intermediate and high risk patients and in patients with known CHD. In conclusion, MPS may provide an optimal solution better than the ongoing situation in Turkey as well, when it is approved as a "gatekeeper in an algorithm before ICA.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None declared.

Clinical use of aspirin in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), principally heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death for both males and females in developed countries. Aspirin is the most widely used and tested antiplatelet drug in CVD, and it is proven to be the cornerstone of antiplatelet therapy in treatment and prevention of CVD in clinical trials in various populations. In acute coronary syndrome, thrombotic stroke, and Kawasaki's disease, acute use of aspirin can decrease mortality and recurrence of cardiovascular events. As secondary prevention, aspirin is believed to be effective in acute coronary syndrome, stable angina, revascularization, stroke, TIA, and atrial fibrillation. Aspirin may also be used for patients with a high risk of future CVD for primary prevention, but the balance between benefits and the possibility of side effects must be considered.

Association of plasma adiponectin levels with hearing thresholds in adults

OBJECTIVE

Obesity is an independent risk factor for age-related hearing impairment. Adiponectin is one of the major adipocytokines secreted by adipose tissue. The aim of our study was to examine whether there is an association between plasma adiponectin concentrations and hearing sensitivity in adults.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We recruited 954 adults aged 40-86 years, with normal or symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss and normal cognitive function. Backward stepwise multivariate linear regression was performed to assess the association between plasma adiponectin concentrations and hearing level Z-scores. Further, backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk of hearing impairment by plasma adiponectin concentration.

RESULTS

Adiponectin concentrations were lower, and waist circumference (WC) was higher in subjects with Z-high in the upper 50% of Z-high. Z-high (correlation coefficient: β = -0·02; standard error [SE] = 0·01; P = 0·003), but not Z-middle or Z-low, was significantly associated with plasma adiponectin concentrations after adjusting for WC, systemic diseases, smoking and alcohol consumption. The risk of hearing impairment for high frequencies, but not low or middle frequencies, decreased by 0·97-fold (odds ratio ± SE = 0·97 ± 0·02, P = 0·048, 95% confidence interval = 0·93-1·00) for every 1-unit increase in adiponectin concentration, after adjusting for age, gender, WC, systemic diseases, smoking and alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION

Plasma adiponectin may protect peripheral hearing function, particularly that related to high frequencies. Adiponectin may be a mediator of obesity-associated, age-related hearing impairment.

Performance of the traditional age, sex, and angina typicality-based approach for estimating pretest probability of angiographically significant coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary computed tomographic angiography: results from the multinational coronary CT angiography evaluation for clinical outcomes: an international multicenter registry (CONFIRM)

BACKGROUND

Guidelines for the management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) rely on the age, sex, and angina typicality-based pretest probabilities of angiographically significant CAD derived from invasive coronary angiography (guideline probabilities). Reliability of guideline probabilities has not been investigated in patients referred to noninvasive CAD testing.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 14048 consecutive patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography. Angina typicality was recorded with the use of accepted criteria. Pretest likelihoods of CAD with ≥ 50 diameter stenosis (CAD50) and ≥ 70 diameter stenosis (CAD70) were calculated from guideline probabilities. Computed tomographic angiography images were evaluated by ≥ 1 expert reader to determine the presence of CAD50 and CAD70. Typical angina was associated with the highest prevalence of CAD50 (40 in men, 19 in women) and CAD70 (27 men, 11 women) compared with other symptom categories (P<0.001 for all). Observed CAD50 and CAD70 prevalences were substantially lower than those predicted by guideline probabilities in the overall population (18 versus 51 for CAD50, 10 versus 42 for CAD70; P<0.001), driven by pronounced differences in patients with atypical angina (15 versus 47 for CAD50, 7 versus 37 for CAD70) and typical angina (29 versus 86 for CAD50, 19 versus 71 for CAD70). Marked overestimation of disease prevalence by guideline probabilities was found at all participating centers and across all sex and age subgroups.

CONCLUSION

In this multinational study of patients referred for coronary computed tomographic angiography, determination of pretest likelihood of angiographically significant CAD by the invasive angiography-based guideline probabilities greatly overestimates the actual prevalence of disease.

Prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score and coronary CT angiography in patients with intermediate risk of coronary artery disease

The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic value of coronary calcium scoring and coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography in assessing the cardiac risk and its temporal characteristics in patients at intermediate pre-test likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cardiac CT was performed in 326 patients at intermediate (15-85%) pre-test likelihood of CAD to evaluate calcium score and presence and severity of the disease. Patients were followed-up for the occurrence of major cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and unstable angina requiring revascularization). During follow-up (26 ± 12 months) 34 events occurred. Calcium score, extent of CAD, and plaque extent and distribution were higher (all P < 0.001) in patients with events than in those without. No patients with calcium score of 0 had events at follow-up. Calcium score (P < 0.001), number of segments with non-calcified or mixed plaque (P < 0.05), and segments-at-risk-score (P < 0.005) were independent predictors of events. Cardiac risk was greater for all time intervals and accelerated more over time with worsening of calcium score. In presence of coronary calcium, significant CAD further increased the probability of failure for all time intervals. Therefore, patients at intermediate CAD risk without coronary calcium do not need further evaluation with longer and higher-radiation-dose protocols, while in the presence of coronary calcium CT angiography is useful to further stratify patients.

The role of dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the clinical management of patients with suspected and known coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have demonstrated the consistently high diagnostic and prognostic value of dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DCMR). The value of DCMR for clinical decision making still needs to be defined. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the utility of DCMR regarding clinical management of patients with suspected and known coronary artery disease (CAD) in a routine setting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively performed a standard DCMR examination in 1532 consecutive patients with suspected and known CAD. Patients were stratified according to the results of DCMR: DCMR-positive patients were recommended to undergo invasive coronary angiography and DCMR-negative patients received optimal medical treatment. Of 609 (40%) DCMR-positive patients coronary angiography was performed in 478 (78%) within 90 days. In 409 of these patients significant coronary stenoses ≥ 50% were present (positive predictive value 86%). Of 923 (60%) DCMR-negative patients 833 (90%) received optimal medical therapy. During a mean follow-up period of 2.1 ± 0.8 years (median: 2.1 years, interquartile range 1.5 to 2.7 years) 8 DCMR-negative patients (0.96%) sustained a cardiac event.In 131 DCMR-positive patients who did not undergo invasive angiography, 20 patients (15%) suffered cardiac events. In 90 DCMR-negative patients (10%) invasive angiography was performed within 2 years (range 0.01 to 2.0 years) with 56 patients having coronary stenoses ≥ 50%.

CONCLUSION

In a routine setting DCMR proved a useful arbiter for clinical decision making and exhibited high utility for stratification and clinical management of patients with suspected and known CAD.

Stable angina pectoris: antianginal therapies and future directions

Advances in pharmacotherapy for stable angina have produced a wide choice of drugs with various mechanisms of action, potentially enabling individualized, patient-specific treatment strategies to be developed. In this Review, the various treatment options for patients with stable angina are discussed. Data from randomized, clinical trials of established and novel drugs are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the proposed mechanisms of action, benefits of therapy, and adverse-effect profiles. The role of coronary revascularization in conjunction with optimal medical therapy as a treatment strategy is discussed, although drug therapy might reduce the need for prompt revascularization if the procedure is being considered solely for the purpose of alleviating angina. Finally, trials to investigate stimulation of angiogenesis using growth-factor, gene, and cell therapy are used to illustrate the challenges of chemically inducing the growth of adequate, durable blood vessels.

Refractory post-infarction myocardial ischemia: treatment potential

The treatment of recurrent, refractory post-infarction myocardial ischemia remains an unresolved clinical problem. Aggressive pharmaceutical therapy has limited effectiveness, while percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery are not possible in these patients, due to various reasons. Currently, alternative methods for refractory angina treatment are being developed for patients with chronic stable angina. The potential of these methods in patients with acute coronary syndrome should be investigated in the future studies.