Coronary disease & ACSMechanistic study

The Role of the Collateral Circulation in Stable Angina: An Invasive Placebo-Controlled Study

CirculationPublished

  • Mechanistic study
  • placebo-controlled
  • n-of-1
  • invasive

Authors' conclusion

Coronary collateralization is associated with ischemic burden and may reduce the intensity of ischemic chest pain.

Study context

Population
Patients with severe single-vessel CAD and angina, antianginal medications stopped
Participants
51 patients
Comparison
Balloon occlusion vs audiovisually identical placebo inflation, in randomized order

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Associations of ischaemia, collateral flow and angina (Somers' D, Bayesian Pr)
Daily angina frequency vs FFR: little correlation
Somers' D 0.124, Pr=0.057
Daily angina frequency vs iFR: little correlation
Somers' D 0.056, Pr=0.150
Lower FFR and greater collateral flow: strong evidence of association
Somers' D 0.302, Pr=0.998
Lower iFR and greater collateral flow: strong evidence of association
Somers' D 0.316, Pr=0.999
Higher collateral flow index and lower pain intensity scores: strong evidence of association
Somers' D 0.341, Pr=0.999

Original publication

The Role of the Collateral Circulation in Stable Angina: An Invasive Placebo-Controlled Study. Circulation. Published 27 October 2025. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.125.074687

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it