» Articles » PMID: 38001231

Coronary Microvascular Obstruction and Dysfunction in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Despite prompt epicardial recanalization in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), coronary microvascular obstruction and dysfunction (CMVO) is still fairly common and is associated with poor prognosis. Various pharmacological and mechanical strategies to treat CMVO have been proposed, but the positive results reported in preclinical and small proof-of-concept studies have not translated into benefits in large clinical trials conducted in the modern treatment setting of patients with STEMI. Therefore, the optimal management of these patients remains a topic of debate. In this Review, we appraise the pathophysiological mechanisms of CMVO, explore the evidence and provide future perspectives on strategies to be implemented to reduce the incidence of CMVO and improve prognosis in patients with STEMI.

Citing Articles

Advances in the diagnosis and management of post-percutaneous coronary intervention coronary microvascular dysfunction: Insights into pathophysiology and metabolic risk interactions.

Tang N, Li K, Li H, Zhang Q, Hao J, Qi C World J Cardiol. 2025; 17(2):103950.

PMID: 40061275 PMC: 11886395. DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v17.i2.103950.


Reperfused Myocardial Infarction: The Road to CCS Classification of Acute MI and Beyond.

Dharmakumar R, Kloner R, Fishbein M, Heusch G, Vora K, Gropler R JACC Adv. 2025; 4(2):101528.

PMID: 40021272 PMC: 11905164. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101528.


Statin Therapy before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Novel Bridge between Thrombin and Thrombomodulin for Enhanced Cardiovascular Protection.

Wang Z, Lai B, Shi X, Wang X, Fang X, Wei Y ACS Omega. 2025; 10(6):6056-6063.

PMID: 39989830 PMC: 11840598. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c10348.


Empagliflozin in Acute Myocardial Infarction Reduces No-Reflow and Preserves Cardiac Function by Preventing Endothelial Damage.

Nikolaou P, Konijnenberg L, Kostopoulos I, Miliotis M, Mylonas N, Georgoulis A JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2025; 10(1):43-61.

PMID: 39958474 PMC: 11830260. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2024.08.003.


Integrating angio-IMR and CMR-assessed microvascular obstruction for improved risk stratification of STEMI patients.

Duan Y, Yin Q, Yang Y, Miao H, Han S, Chi Q Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):5470.

PMID: 39953117 PMC: 11828958. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88942-0.


References
1.
Roth G, Mensah G, Johnson C, Addolorato G, Ammirati E, Baddour L . Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors, 1990-2019: Update From the GBD 2019 Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020; 76(25):2982-3021. PMC: 7755038. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.010. View

2.
Eeckhout E, Kern M . The coronary no-reflow phenomenon: a review of mechanisms and therapies. Eur Heart J. 2001; 22(9):729-39. DOI: 10.1053/euhj.2000.2172. View

3.
Heusch G . The Coronary Circulation as a Target of Cardioprotection. Circ Res. 2016; 118(10):1643-58. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308640. View

4.
Heusch G . Coronary microvascular obstruction: the new frontier in cardioprotection. Basic Res Cardiol. 2019; 114(6):45. DOI: 10.1007/s00395-019-0756-8. View

5.
de Waha S, Patel M, Granger C, Ohman E, Maehara A, Eitel I . Relationship between microvascular obstruction and adverse events following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: an individual patient data pooled analysis from seven randomized trials. Eur Heart J. 2017; 38(47):3502-3510. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx414. View