Cardiac syndrome X: a critical overview and future perspectives

Heart. 2007 Feb;93(2):159-66. doi: 10.1136/hrt.2005.067330. Epub 2006 Jan 6.

Abstract

The classic definition of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) seems inadequate both for clinical and research purposes and should be replaced with one aimed at including a sufficiently homogeneous group of patients with the common plausible pathophysiological mechanism of coronary microvascular dysfunction. More specifically, CSX should be defined as a form of stable effort angina, which, according to careful diagnostic investigation, can reasonably be attributed to abnormalities in the coronary microvascular circulation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chest Pain
  • Coronary Circulation
  • Coronary Vasospasm / physiopathology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology
  • Humans
  • Microcirculation
  • Microvascular Angina / classification*
  • Microvascular Angina / diagnosis
  • Microvascular Angina / physiopathology
  • Myocardial Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Ischemia / physiopathology
  • Prognosis