Phenotype-based management of coronary microvascular dysfunction.

40-70% of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography with signs and symptoms of ischemia are found to have no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA). When this heterogeneous group undergo coronary function testing, approximately two-thirds have demonstrable coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), which is independently associated with adverse prognosis. There are four distinct phenotypes, or subgroups, each with unique pathophysiological mechanisms and responses to therapies. The clinical phenotypes are microvascular angina, vasospastic angina, mixed (microvascular and vasospastic), and non-cardiac symptoms (reclassification as non-INOCA). The Coronary Vasomotor Disorders International Study Group (COVADIS) have proposed standardized criteria for diagnosis. There is growing awareness of these conditions among clinicians and within guidelines. Testing for CMD can be done using invasive or non-invasive modalities. The CorMicA study advocates the concept of 'functional angiography' to guide stratified medical therapy. Therapies broadly fall into two categories: those that modulate cardiovascular risk and those to alleviate angina. Management should be tailored to the individual, with periodic reassessment for efficacy. Phenotype-based management is a worthy endeavor for both patients and clinicians, aligning with the concept of 'precision medicine' to improve prognosis, symptom burden, and quality of life. Here, we present a contemporary approach to the phenotype-based management of patients with INOCA.

What an Interventionalist Needs to Know About INOCA.

Ischaemia with non-obstructed coronary artery disease (INOCA) remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. An anatomical investigationbased approach to ischaemic heart disease fails to account for disorders of vasomotion. The main INOCA endotypes are microvascular angina, vasospastic angina, mixed (both) or non-cardiac symptoms. The interventional diagnostic procedure (IDP) enables differentiation between clinical endotypes, with linked stratified medical therapy leading to a reduced symptom burden and a better quality of life. Interventionists are therefore well placed to make a positive impact with more personalised care. Despite adjunctive tests of coronary function being supported by contemporary guidelines, IDP use in daily practice remains limited. More widespread adoption should be encouraged. This article reviews a stratified approach to INOCA, describes a streamlined approach to the IDP and highlights some practical and safety considerations.

Long-term outcomes of patients investigated for suspected upper extremities deep venous thrombosis irrespective of imaging results.

BACKGROUND: Outcome data are limited for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT). The outcomes of patients investigated for, but without UEDVT remain uncertain. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of adult patients undergoing Doppler ultrasound for potential UEDVT between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2014 was undertaken. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were new cancer diagnosis and thromboembolic recurrence. RESULTS: The final cohort (n = 528) comprised 25 primary UEDVT, 100 secondary UEDVT, 40 superficial-venous thrombosis and 363 without thrombus patients. There were 207 deaths. Survival was higher in primary than in secondary UEDVT (log-rank p < 0.0001) or those without thrombus (log-rank p = 0.001). Pre-existing cancer [hazard ratio 3.6 (95% confidence interval 1.5-8.9)] was the biggest independent predictor of mortality and leading cause of death. Developing UEDVT was a poor prognostic marker in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: There was high early mortality regardless of radiological findings, with the exception of primary UEDVT. Prospective studies evaluating aggressive treatment of underlying comorbidities in these patients are needed.