The Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon – A New Coronary Microvascular Disorder

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The coronary slow flow phenomenon is an angiographic finding characterized by delayed distal vessel opacification in the absence of significant epicardial coronary disease. Case-control and observational studies of patients with this phenomenon were conducted to determine the associated clinical features and prognosis. Patients with coronary slow flow (n = 47) differed from controls (n = 47), more often being current smokers (32 vs. 9%; p < 0.01) and presenting with rest pain requiring urgent admission (74 vs. 21%; p < 0.001), usually to the coronary care unit (66 vs. 17%; p < 0.01). During a median 21-month follow-up of 64 slow flow patients, 84% had recurrent chest pain. Based upon these findings and those of previous investigators, it is speculated that coronary slow flow is a new disease entity characterized by acute but recurrent perturbations of microvascular function.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: