Assessment and impact of the human coronary collateral circulation on myocardial ischemia and outcome

摘要

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in industrialized countries and may become the most prevalent reason for mortality worldwide.1,2 In the vast majority of patients, death is the consequence of cerebral or myocardial infarction, both of which are characterized by acute vessel occlusion in the context of atherosclerosis.2 In this situation, outcome depends critically on the extent of infarcted tissue.3