Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon

Coronary no-reflow (CNR) is the failure of blood to reperfuse ischemic myocardial tissue after restoration of the vasculature. CNR poses a significant clinical challenge in the treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as it increases mortality and the risk of ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hubert Borzuta, Wiktor Kociemba, Oliwia Bochenek, Monika Jarowicz, Agnieszka Wsół
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1716
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849405897360539648
author Hubert Borzuta
Wiktor Kociemba
Oliwia Bochenek
Monika Jarowicz
Agnieszka Wsół
author_facet Hubert Borzuta
Wiktor Kociemba
Oliwia Bochenek
Monika Jarowicz
Agnieszka Wsół
author_sort Hubert Borzuta
collection DOAJ
description Coronary no-reflow (CNR) is the failure of blood to reperfuse ischemic myocardial tissue after restoration of the vasculature. CNR poses a significant clinical challenge in the treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as it increases mortality and the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Myocardial ischemia with subsequent reperfusion results in severe damage to the cardiac microcirculation. The pathophysiological causes of CNR include cardiomyocyte vulnerability, capillary and endothelial damage, leukocyte activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and changes in microRNA profiles and related gene expression. The impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the occurrence of CNR cannot be overlooked, as it can provoke distal atherothrombotic embolization. Current standards of pharmacological therapy for CNR are confined to intracoronary vasodilators and antiplatelet agents. As our understanding of the pathogenesis of the CNR phenomenon improves, opportunities emerge for developing novel therapeutic strategies. The following literature review provides an overview of the pathophysiology of the no-reflow phenomenon (based on animal and preclinical studies), contemporary treatment trends, and current therapeutic approaches.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e90db7111254c69a06ca3608741c8dd
institution Kabale University
issn 2227-9059
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Biomedicines
spelling doaj-art-4e90db7111254c69a06ca3608741c8dd2025-08-20T03:36:34ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137171610.3390/biomedicines13071716Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow PhenomenonHubert Borzuta0Wiktor Kociemba1Oliwia Bochenek2Monika Jarowicz3Agnieszka Wsół4Chair and Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, PolandChair and Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, PolandMiędzylesie Specialist Hospital in Warsaw, Bursztynowa 2, 04-749 Warsaw, PolandChair and Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, PolandChair and Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, PolandCoronary no-reflow (CNR) is the failure of blood to reperfuse ischemic myocardial tissue after restoration of the vasculature. CNR poses a significant clinical challenge in the treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as it increases mortality and the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Myocardial ischemia with subsequent reperfusion results in severe damage to the cardiac microcirculation. The pathophysiological causes of CNR include cardiomyocyte vulnerability, capillary and endothelial damage, leukocyte activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and changes in microRNA profiles and related gene expression. The impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the occurrence of CNR cannot be overlooked, as it can provoke distal atherothrombotic embolization. Current standards of pharmacological therapy for CNR are confined to intracoronary vasodilators and antiplatelet agents. As our understanding of the pathogenesis of the CNR phenomenon improves, opportunities emerge for developing novel therapeutic strategies. The following literature review provides an overview of the pathophysiology of the no-reflow phenomenon (based on animal and preclinical studies), contemporary treatment trends, and current therapeutic approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1716coronary no-reflowmyocardial infarctionanimal modelspathophysiologyischemia/reperfusion injurymicrovascular obstruction
spellingShingle Hubert Borzuta
Wiktor Kociemba
Oliwia Bochenek
Monika Jarowicz
Agnieszka Wsół
Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon
Biomedicines
coronary no-reflow
myocardial infarction
animal models
pathophysiology
ischemia/reperfusion injury
microvascular obstruction
title Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon
title_full Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon
title_fullStr Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon
title_short Advances in Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon
title_sort advances in pathophysiology and novel therapeutic strategies for coronary no reflow phenomenon
topic coronary no-reflow
myocardial infarction
animal models
pathophysiology
ischemia/reperfusion injury
microvascular obstruction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1716
work_keys_str_mv AT hubertborzuta advancesinpathophysiologyandnoveltherapeuticstrategiesforcoronarynoreflowphenomenon
AT wiktorkociemba advancesinpathophysiologyandnoveltherapeuticstrategiesforcoronarynoreflowphenomenon
AT oliwiabochenek advancesinpathophysiologyandnoveltherapeuticstrategiesforcoronarynoreflowphenomenon
AT monikajarowicz advancesinpathophysiologyandnoveltherapeuticstrategiesforcoronarynoreflowphenomenon
AT agnieszkawsoł advancesinpathophysiologyandnoveltherapeuticstrategiesforcoronarynoreflowphenomenon