Coronary Flow: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Noninvasive Evaluation

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality in western countries. Myocardial contraction is indeed closely connected to coronary flow and oxygen delivery; the balance between oxygen supply and demand is a crucial determinant of the normal function of the heart. Acute impairment of this relationship due to coronary blood flow reduction results in a vicious cycle, where ischemia-induced contractile dysfunction causes hypotension and further myocardial ischemia.