Coronary microvascular dysfunction and inflammation: Insights from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry

Cardiovasc Revasc Med. 2024 Dec:69:30-34. doi: 10.1016/j.carrev.2024.05.020. Epub 2024 May 11.

Abstract

Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with various inflammatory conditions that worsen endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CMD and inflammation using common inflammatory markers derived from complete blood count (CBC) analysis.

Methods: Information was gathered from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry to examine the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio (EMR), and monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) in a cohort of patients with angina who showed non-obstructive coronary arteries and underwent invasive physiological assessments for CMD.

Results: Of the 171 patients studied, 126 were CMD-negative and 45 were CMD-positive, constituting two groups of interest. The average age of all patients was 61.7 ± 11.1 years, and 63.7 % were female. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, or potential anti-inflammatory medications. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in NLR (2.54 ± 3.71 vs. 2.52 ± 2.28, p = 0.97), EMR (0.3 ± 0.21 vs. 0.34 ± 0.29, p = 0.31), or MHR (0.02 ± 0.01 vs. 0.01 ± 0.01, p = 0.54) between CMD-positive and CMD-negative patients.

Conclusion: Our findings did not show a noteworthy connection between CMD and inflammation, as suggested by various simple CBC-based biomarkers.

Keywords: Coronary microvascular dysfunction; Hemodynamic assessment; Inflammation; Stable angina; angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / physiopathology
  • Coronary Circulation*
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Vessels / physiopathology
  • Eosinophils
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood
  • Inflammation* / blood
  • Inflammation* / diagnosis
  • Inflammation* / physiopathology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes
  • Male
  • Microcirculation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes* / immunology
  • Neutrophils*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Registries*

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Biomarkers