Relation Between Microvascular and Macrovascular Hemodynamics in Normal Epicardial Coronary Arteries

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk factors both affect macrovascular and microvascular systems, resulting in negative results on the entire vascular tree. Aortic stiffness causes augmented systolic pressure, increased pulse pressure, increased myocardial oxygen demand, and consequently, coronary blood flow diminishes because of decreased diastolic augmentation. The aim of our study is to investigate the relation between macrovascular and microvascular hemodynamics. Methods: We have included 58 consecutive patients (29 male, age 54[34-71]) without any epicardial coronary stenosis in coronary angiography. Macrovascular and microvascular parameters were calculated with the measurements of tonometry, coronary flow reserve, and microvascular resistance. Results:Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) had an inverse correlation (r=-0.328,p=0.007).The main reason of this correlation was priorly positive correlation between PWV and systolic pressure-time integral (SPTI) (r=0.465, p

Keywords

• pulse wave velocity
• augmentation index
• subendocardial viability ratio
• index of microvascular resistance
• coronary flow reserve
• normal coronary arteries
• microvascular dysfunction