Coronary circulation and myocardial ischemia

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This volume provides the latest insights into the basic science and clinical issues related to coronary circulation and myocardial ischemia, organized into four parts. The first section explores the basic physiology of coronary blood flow and its regulation, particularly in the context of atherosclerotic disease. The second part delves into applied physiological aspects, discussing key concepts like pre-conditioning, inflammation, thrombosis, and fibrinolysis, all linked to ventricular pump function. The third section focuses on advanced functional assessments of coronary circulation, moving beyond traditional methods like coronary angiography and nuclear scanning to include innovative technologies such as echocardiographic analysis of tissue blood flow, PET for myocardial viability, rapid nuclear magnetic imaging, and intracoronary ultrasound. The final part examines various therapies for coronary ischemia, including non-thrombotic, anti-thrombotic, and thrombolytic treatments. Topics covered include local control of coronary blood flow, mechanisms of atherosclerosis, the role of inflammation in acute coronary syndromes, and the functional assessment of coronary physiology. Additionally, it discusses the use of beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, and interventional cardiology in treating coronary disease, emphasizing the enhancement of coronary blood flow for myocardial salvage therapy.