by
Janet Wei;
Puja Kiran Mehta;
B. Delia Johnson;
Bruce Samuels;
Saibal Kar;
R. David Anderson;
Babak Azarbal;
John Petersen;
Barry Sharaf;
Eileen Handberg;
Chrisandra Shufelt;
Kamlesh Kothawade;
George Sopko;
Amir Lerman;
Leslee J Shaw;
Sheryl F. Kelsey;
Carl J. Pepine;
C. Noel Bairey Merz
Objectives: This study evaluated the safety of coronary reactivity testing (CRT) in symptomatic women with evidence of myocardial ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Background: Microvascular coronary dysfunction (MCD) in women with no obstructive CAD portends an adverse prognosis of a 2.5% annual major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate. The diagnosis of MCD is established by invasive CRT, yet the risk of CRT is unknown. Methods: The authors evaluated 293 symptomatic women with ischemia and no obstructive CAD, who underwent CRT at 3 experienced centers. Microvascular function was assessed using a Doppler wire and injections of adenosine, acetylcholine, and nitroglycerin into the left coronary artery. CRT-related serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse events (AEs), and follow-up MACE (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI], nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure) were recorded. Results: CRT-SAEs occurred in 2 women (0.7%) during the procedure: 1 had coronary artery dissection, and 1 developed MI associated with coronary spasm. CRT-AEs occurred in 2 women (0.7%) and included 1 transient air microembolism and 1 deep venous thrombosis. There was no CRT-related mortality. In the mean follow-up period of 5.4 years, the MACE rate was 8.2%, including 5 deaths (1.7%), 8 nonfatal MIs (2.7%), 8 nonfatal strokes (2.7%), and 11 hospitalizations for heart failure (3.8%). Conclusions: In women undergoing CRT for suspected MCD, contemporary testing carries a relatively low risk compared with the MACE rate in these women. These results support the use of CRT by experienced operators for establishing definitive diagnosi s and assessing prognosis in this at-risk population. (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation [WISE] ; NCT00832702).