Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary artery (INOCA): Non-invasive versus invasive techniques for diagnosis and the role of #FullPhysiology

Abstract

Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is an increasingly recognized entity. It encompasses different pathophysiological subtypes (i.e., endotypes), including coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), vasospastic angina (VSA) and mixed entities resulting from the variable combination of both. Diagnosing INOCA and precisely characterizing the endotype allows for accurate medical treatment and has proven prognostic implications. A breadth of diagnostic technique is available, ranging from non-invasive approaches to invasive coronary angiography adjuvated by functional assessment and provocative tests. This review summarizes the strength and limitations of these methodologies and provides the rationale for the routine referral for invasive angiography and functional assessment in this subset of patients.

Keywords: ANOCA; Coronary flow reserve; Coronary microcirculation; Coronary physiology; INOCA; Index of microvascular resistance.