Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-13-2018
Abstract
Background. Coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is characterized by delayed distal vessel opacification of contrast, in the absence of significant epicardial coronary stenosis. CSFP has been reported as a cause of chest pain and abnormal noninvasive ischemic tests and is often underrecognized. Material and Methods. Charts and angiographic records from our institution were reviewed to identify 15 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with CSFP from January 2016 to January 2017. Results. Of the 15 patients (4 females and 11 males) studied, the mean age was 59.1 years (range = 45-86 years); all had left ventricular ejection fraction >45% and without significant valvular stenosis/regurgitation. The indication for coronary angiography for all 15 patients was chest pain with abnormal noninvasive tests. Of the 11 patients who underwent previous coronary angiograms, all revealed prior evidence of CSFP. None of these patients were on calcium channel blockers (CCBs) or long-acting nitroglycerin agents before angiography. Intracoronary CCBs were effectively utilized to alleviate the angiographic finding (improvement in Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count) in all 15 patients. Oral CCBs were started with subsequent improvement in all 15 patients (mean follow-up time = 13.6 months). Conclusion. Coronary slow-flow should be a diagnostic consideration in patients presenting with chest pain and abnormal noninvasive ischemic testing with nonobstructive epicardial vessels. CSFP remains underrecognized, and the specific standard of care for treatment has not been established. In each of the 15 cases, intracoronary nifedipine resolved the angiographic manifestation of coronary slow-flow. Furthermore, in follow-up, all patients improved symptomatically from their chest pain after oral CCBs were initiated.
Recommended Citation
Alvarez, Chikezie and Siu, MD, Henry, "Coronary Slow-Flow Phenomenon as an Underrecognized and Treatable Source of Chest Pain: Case Series and Literature Review." (2018). Department of Medicine Faculty Papers. Paper 253.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/medfp/253
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
PubMed ID
30038914
Language
English
Comments
This article has been peer reviewed. It was published in: Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports.
Volume 6, 13 July 2018.
The published version is available at DOI: 10.1177/2324709618789194
Copyright © 2018 Alvarez & Siu
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).