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What Is Non-obstructive Coronary Disease?

Non-obstructive coronary disease is a condition that manifests with chest pain but lacks the arterial blockages which normally accompany coronary disease. Despite the lack of blockages, non-obstructive coronary disease poses a serious health risk.

  1. Cause

    • The cause of non-obstructive coronary disease is unclear as of 2009, but the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) notes that problems with the endothelial cells that line the insides of arteries may contribute to the condition.

    Symptoms

    • The most frequent symptom of non-obstructive coronary disease is chest pain, which may be non-specific but can manifest as standard angina (radiating pain, pressure, squeezing).

    Deceptive Test Results

    • Historically, test results for this condition have shown little or no obstruction, so the problem has been considered low-risk. However, research performed at the University of Bologna suggests that those with non-obstructive coronary disease are still at high risk for future cardiac events.

    Treatment Issues

    • Treatment for this condition has frequently been no treatment at all, but the JAMA suggests that beta blockers, statin medications, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors should be employed.

    Demographic Considerations

    • The group at highest risk for developing non-obstructive coronary disease are non-white women, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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