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Int J Med Sci 2023; 20(8):1024-1037. doi:10.7150/ijms.85789 This issue Cite

Review

Chinese patent medicines for coronary microvascular disease: clinical evidence and potential mechanisms

Zhihua Yang^1,2, Yangxi Liu¹, Zhihui Song², Yujian Fan¹, Shanshan Lin¹, Zhao Ge¹, Shaoling Feng¹, Yu Liu¹, Yingfei Bi¹, Yi Wang² , Xianliang Wang¹ , Jingyuan Mao¹

1. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China.
2. Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.

✉ Corresponding authors: Xianliang Wang: xlwang1981com, Yi Wang: wangyiedu.cn, Jingyuan Mao: jymaocom.

Abstract

Coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) is a high risk factor for many cardiovascular events. Due to the limited understanding of its pathophysiological mechanism, modern medicine still lacks therapeutic drugs for CMVD. Existing clinical studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of CMVD patients. As an indispensable part of TCM, Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) are widely used in clinical practice. In the face of numerous oral CPMs for treatment of CMVD, how to choose a reasonable medication regimen is one of the important issues in clinic. Based on this, this paper reviewed the clinical efficacy and recommended level of 12 CPMs in the treatment of CMVD, which are recommended by expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular disease with integrated Chinese and Western medicine (WM). In addition, this study also systematically summarized the possible mechanisms of CPMs in the treatment of CMVD by protecting coronary microvascular endothelial cells, improving vascular endothelial function, inhibiting inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, promoting angiogenesis, and improving hemorheology, aiming to provide meaningful information for its clinical application.

Keywords: coronary microvascular disease, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese patent medicines, clinical evidence, potential mechanisms

Introduction

Coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) refers to a class of diseases characterized by subjective symptoms and/or objective evidence of myocardial ischemia due to insufficient myocardial blood supply and abnormal regulation of myocardial blood flow caused by the abnormal structure and/or function of coronary microvessels [1]. There is no epidemiological information on CMVD in a large sample of people. A systematic review published in 2017 covering approximately 1.4 million subjects in 54 studies showed that the prevalence of CMVD without concomitant obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) was 67% in patients with stable angina, and it was considerably greater in women than in men [2]. In 2020, a meta-analysis of 6,631 patients with non-obstructive myocardial ischemia using coronary flow reserve (CFR) to determine the presence of CMVD showed that compared with patients without CMVD, CMVD patients had a 3.93-fold increase in mortality and a 5.16-fold increase in the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events [3]. Another meta-analysis that included 37 studies and 7212 patients with non-obstructive myocardial ischemia revealed that the prevalence of CMVD was about 41% and that female patients had a higher risk of developing CMVD compared to male patients [4]. And patients with CMVD have a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) relative to the healthy population [5-8]. Furthermore, CMVD has been associated with independently worsening diastolic dysfunction, and patients with diastolic dysfunction combined with CMVD had a 5-fold increased risk of hospitalization due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction [5]. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of CMVD is of great clinical importance.

In recent years, the understanding of CMVD is gradually deepening both domestically and internationally. In 2017, academician Zhang Yun and others developed the Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD [1], which is the first expert consensus on CMVD to be published both domestically and internationally. It has received significant attention from both domestic and international cardiovascular disease academia. Since then, seven guidelines/expert consensus regarding CMVD have been published in China and overseas. In 2018, the Coronary Vasomotion Disorders International Study Group (COVADIS) proposed international diagnostic criteria for type 1 microvascular abnormalities or primary CMVD and included slow flow on coronary angiography as one of the evidence of coronary artery microvascular abnormalities [9].In 2019, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) classified CMVD as an important type of chronic coronary syndrome and proposed corresponding diagnostic and treatment strategies[10]. The American Heart Association (AHA) indicates that CMVD may be an important cause of myocardial infarction with no-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)[11]. In 2020, the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) and the ESC jointly published a consensus document on Ischemia and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (INOCA), proposing CMVD and/or subepicardial coronary artery spasm as the main cause of INOCA [12]. The Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Multidisciplinary Microvascular Illnesses in China, released by the Chinese Geriatrics Society in 2020[13], covered the pathological characteristics and common prevention and control measures of multi-organ microvascular diseases. In 2022, Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Coronary Artery Microvascular Diseases with Integrated Chinese and Western medicine (WM), jointly led by the Cardiovascular Committee of the China Association of TCM, Collateral Disease Committee of Beijing Society of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of TCM, was the first published expert consensus on the treatment of CMVD with proprietary TCM.

Currently, the progress of WM treatment of CMVD is relatively slow, and there is no drug available for CMVD. Clinical treatment of CMVD is still dominated by traditional cardiovascular drugs such as nicorandil, statins, calcium channel blockers and renin-angiotensin system blockers [14]. There is no specific disease name for CMVD In TCM. Based on clinical symptoms, it can be classified under the category of "chest obstruction and heart pain" in TCM. TCM has many advantages, such as multi-components, multi-targets, multi-pathways, wide action mechanisms, minimal adverse effects, and good patient compliance, which play a unique role in the prevention and treatment of CMVD. The pathogenesis of CMVD is complex, and currently effective treatment methods are lacking. Under the guidance of the theory of holistic concept and the syndrome differentiation and treatment, individualized TCM treatments have shown good clinical efficacy in managing CMVD. In recent years, the research of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CMVD is deepening. Our team has previously conducted a review of clinical studies in the field of TCM against CMVD, and summarized 71 representative randomized controlled trials involving 34 oral Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), 11 TCM injections and 26 TCM decoctions. Our previous summary results showed that compared with the use of conventional WM alone, the combination of TCM can further alleviate angina symptoms in CMVD patients, improve the TCM evidence score and ECG ischemia, improve quality of life and exercise tolerance, improve coronary microcirculation disturbance, increase CFR, decrease the index of microvascular resistance (IMR), protect vascular endothelial function, inhibit inflammatory responses in the body, reduce blood lipids, improve long-term prognosis and reduce rehospitalization rate [14]. Our preliminary summary of clinical evidence shows that TCM has great potential in the field of CMVD prevention and treatment.

CMVD is one of the dominant diseases in TCM treatment. CPMs is a modern preparation processed according to the prescribed prescription and preparation technology under the guidance of the TCM theory. Compared with TCM decoction, oral CPMs has the advantages of convenient to carry, controllable dose and good taste, and occupies an important position in the field of medical care in China. At present, there are few high-quality evidence-based clinical studies on the treatment of CMVD with CPMs that meet the requirements, and some outcome indicators have not been fully supported by evidence-based evidence. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence-based suggestions for the diagnosis and treatment of CMVD-integrated TCM and WM. In the face of many oral CPMs for treatment of CMVD, how to choose the reasonable drug regimen is one of the important clinical problems. The Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD with integrated Chinese and WM is the first expert consensus on the treatment of CMVD with proprietary TCM, and it is extremely important for increasing the efficacy of CMVD treatment by serving as a guide and reference for TCM and WM specialists, general practitioners and primary care physicians [15]. This paper systematically summarizes and analyzes the clinical evidence and pharmacological mechanisms of action of CPMs recommended by Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD with integrated Chinese and WM for the treatment of CMVD and provides a scientific basis for their clinical application.

Classification and diagnostic criteria of CMVD

Classification of CMVD

According to the different etiologies of CMVD, it can be divided into three categories: CMVD without OCAD, CMVD with OCAD, and other types of CMVD [1]. CMVD without OCAD includes microvascular angina and coronary slow flow phenomenon [15]. There are three common clinical types of CMVD with OCAD: 1) patients with stable angina pectoris and coronary artery disease (CAD) heavier than the symptoms expected from the degree of coronary stenosis; 2) acute coronary syndrome; 3) after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the blood vessels were re-routed, but the myocardial perfusion was not restored, that is, there was no reflow[15].

Diagnostic criteria of CMVD

CMVD without OCAD

Referring to the 2020 EAPCI Expert Consensus Document on INOCA [12], angina symptoms with objective evidence of myocardial ischemia should be satisfied, but coronary angiography or coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed no subepicardial OCAD, as seen in Table 1.

CMVD with OCAD

According to the Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD[1], CAD patients can be diagnosed as CMVD complicated with OCAD if one of the following five conditions occurs after revascularization to relieve epicardial coronary artery stenosis: 1) CFR < 2.0 is measured after intra-coronary injection of adenosine or dipyridamole; 2) There is no spasm in the subepicardial coronary artery after intra-coronary injection of acetylcholine, but typical angina pectoris and ischemic ST-T changes in electrocardiogram are observed; 3) Coronary angiography criminal vascular thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) blood grading is 0~2; 4) SPECT shows no local perfusion area of myocardium before discharge; 5) CMR imaging shows myocardial perfusion defect or gadolinium delayed enhancement.

TCM treatment of CMVD

TCM syndrome diagnosis of CMVD

CMVD belongs to the category of TCM “chest obstruction” and “heartache”, which can refer to TCM “chest obstruction” and “heartache” for syndrome differentiation and treatment. The common TCM syndromes of CMVD include blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, qi deficiency, qi stagnation, Yin deficiency, and Yang deficiency. The common complex syndrome type is qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, followed by phlegm and blood stasis syndrome, Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, and qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome [15]. The main clinical symptoms of CMVD are paroxysmal chest tightness or chest pain, which can be divided into 6 kinds of syndromes. TCM syndrome differentiation of CMVD is seen in Table 2.

Clinical evidence of CPMs treatment of CMVD

Search strategy/methodology: According to the inclusion criteria, literature was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP Journal database, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMbase and other databases from the establishment of the database to May 2022, and supplementary retrieval was conducted by referring to the literature included in the systematic reviews included in this study. The search terms used to define the disease included: coronary microvascular disease, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), microvascular angina, microvascular chest pain, cardiac syndrome X, coronary slow flow phenomenon, coronary slow flow, no-reflow.

Inclusion criteria: Subjects: Patients with CMVD, including CMD, microvascular angina (cardiac syndrome X), coronary slow flow phenomenon, and no reflow after PCI. Intervention and control measures: ① The experimental group was treated with a Chinese patent medicine or external treatment of TCM combined with conventional WM, the control group was treated with conventional WM; ② The experimental group was treated with a Chinese patent medicine or external treatment of TCM, the control group was treated with placebo or routine nursing measures. Type of study: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews.

Exclusion criteria: ①Studies with missing important data such as sample size and outcome measures; ② Studies lack comparability of baseline data between groups.; ③ Repeatedly published studies; ④ Studies for which full-text reports could not be obtained; ⑤ Studies that significantly violate the diagnostic and treatment routine.The clinical evidence for this consensus was constructed by searching the currently published RCTs or systematic reviews of the treatment of CMVD with CPMs.

The Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD with integrated Chinese and WM recommends 12 CPMs for the treatment of CMVD, among which the majority are for the treatment of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, and qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, while the treatment of other syndromes of CMVD is insufficient, as shown in Table 3[15]. Based on Table 3, the clinical evidence of CPMs for CMVD is summarized in Table 4.

Microvascular angina

Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome

Syndrome differentiation of microvascular angina belongs to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome except for the typical symptoms of angina pectoris, there is also shortness of breath and fatigue, and the symptoms are aggravated during activity. Based on the routine treatment of WM, Tongxinluo capsule, Qishen Yiqi dropping pills or Naoxintong capsule (strong recommendation) and Shexiang Tongxin dripping Pills (weak recommendation) can be used for such patients [16]. Existing clinical studies have shown that the combined use of Tongxinluo capsule or Naoxintong capsule based on the routine treatment of WM can reduce the attack times of angina pectoris [16-18], shorten the duration of each angina pectoris attack [18], prolong the duration of treadmill exercise [19, 20], and reduce the dosage of nitroglycerin [18]. Compared with the routine treatment of WM, Qishen Yiqi dropping pills combined with routine WM can decrease IMR in patients with microvascular angina pectoris. For patients with heart failure, Qishen Yiqi dropping pills can increase left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and improve cardiac function [21]. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 3537 patients after PCI showed that the application of Qishen Yiqi dripping Pills combined with WM in the treatment of patients after PCI could reduce the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), improve the clinical efficacy, quality of life and prognosis compared with WM treatment alone [22]. Shexiang Tongxin dripping pills by themselves can decrease IMR in patients with microvascular angina as compared to the untreated group. Compared with the routine treatment of WM alone [23], Shexiang Tongxin dripping pills combined with routine treatment of WM can prolong the duration of patients' treadmill exercise and reduce the frequency of angina pectoris attacks [24]. A meta-analysis demonstrated that Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills combined with conventional therapy of CAD was more effective than conventional therapy in the indicators of the total effective rate, electrocardiogram efficacy, the number and duration of angina attack, and improve blood lipids [25].

Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome

Syndrome differentiation of microvascular angina belongs to qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome except for typical angina pectoris, at the same time, it can be seen that the pain in the chest and flank is aggravated with the change of mood. Based on the routine treatment of WM, such patients can be treated with Shexiang Baoxin pills, Compound Danshen dripping pills, Wide chest aerosol, Suxiao Jiuxin pills, Xuefu Zhuyu capsule (strong recommendation), and Yindan Xinnaotong soft capsule (weak recommendation). Shexiang Baoxin pills [26-28], Compound Danshen dripping pills [29], Suxiao Jiuxin pills [30] or Yindan Xinnaotong soft capsule [31] combined with WM in the treatment of patients with microvascular angina, compared with the routine treatment of WM, it can reduce the frequency of angina pectoris attacks. A multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial including 200 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with early PCI patients showed that Suxiao Jiuxin pills (SJP) with WM was more effective than WM treatment alone in the indicators of improvement of heart function and quality of life, lowed incidence of MACE, increased score in the seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ) subscale and decreased the serum concentration of fibrinogen (Fib) and cystatin C (cysC)[32]. Compared with the routine treatment of WM, the combination of Shexiang Baoxin pills [33-35] or Yindan Xinnaotong soft capsule [36] can decrease IMR. A Meta-Analysis analysis results demonstrated that Yindanxinnaotong soft capsule could regulate coagulation condition and fibrinolytic system in patients with CAD and improve myocardial ischemia, angina symptoms, and heart function, reduce restenosis after PCI, and regulate blood lipids, control the long-term development of the cardiovascular disease and prevent the cardiovascular events from happening again [37]. Shexiang Baoxin pills [38] or Xuefu Zhuyu capsule [39] combined with routine WM can prolong the duration of treadmill exercise in patients with microvascular angina. A systematic review and meta-analysis analysis results showed that Shexiang Baoxin pills could demonstrate a beneficial role in patients with CAD after PCI of reducing the incidence of MACE and improving LVEF, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), inflammatory mediators, and blood lipid index [40]. Wide chest aerosol can reduce the number of corrected TIMI frame grading during coronary angiography in patients with microvascular angina [41]. A non-inferiority multi-center RCT demonstrated that Wide chest aerosol can rapidly relieve angina pectoris. Furthermore, Wide chest aerosol has superior effect, and better tolerability than nitroglycerin tablet among Canadian Cardiovascular Society Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients [42].

Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome

The syndrome differentiation of microvascular angina belongs to the qi and Yin deficiency syndrome. In addition to the typical symptoms of angina pectoris, there are also symptoms of qi deficiency such as fatigue, shortness of breath, aggravation of labor, and Yin deficiency such as tidal fever and sweating, night sweats, and red tongue with little coating. Such patients can be treated with Tongmai Yangxin pills based on conventional WM (strong recommendation). Compared with conventional WM, Tongmai Yangxin pills combined with conventional WM can reduce the positive rate of treadmill exercise for patients with microvascular angina [43]. A systematic review of RCTs showed that compared with the single application of WM treatment, the combined administration with Tongmai Yangxin pills and WM has a better clinical efficacy in the treatment of angina pectoris of CAD in terms of the improvement rate of electrocardiogram and the clinical efficacy of TCM syndrome [44]. Modern pharmacological research indicated that Tongmai Yangxin pills could improve the cardiac structure and function, reduce muscle fiber swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration, alleviate cardiomyocyte injury, and significantly reduce myocardial ischemia reperfusion with no-reflow [45].

Heart blood stasis syndrome

The differentiation of microvascular angina pectoris belongs to the heart blood stasis syndrome with clinical manifestations of chest pain, chest tightness, and lip and/or tongue dark purple can be treated with CPMs for activating blood and resolving stasis, dredging collaterals and relieving pain such as Danshen tablets (weak recommendation). Danshen tablets combined with conventional WM can prolong the duration of treadmill exercise, and reduce the frequency of angina attacks and the dosage of nitroglycerin in the treatment of microvascular angina patients compared with conventional WM [46].

ST-elevation myocardial infarction

For patients needing revascularization, the application of TCM intervention based on conventional WM treatment before surgery can reduce the incidence of patients with no reflow after PCI. Clinical evidence shows that Tongxinluo capsule combined with conventional WM can be used to treat acute myocardial infarction patients and reduce the no-reflow rate (strong recommendation). For patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), combined application of Tongxinluo capsule and conventional WM before emergency PCI further reduced the no-reflow rate within 24h compared with conventional WM [47]. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study including 3652 patients with CAD after PCI provided evidence that, compared with conventional treatment alone, Tongxinluo capsule as an adjuvant therapy had better clinical efficacy in the treatment of CAD after PCI and could effectively reduce the risk of angiographic restenosis, heart failure, angina, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and lower all-cause mortality and mortality due to any cardiovascular event on the 6-month course[48].

No-reflow after PCI

In the case of patients with no-reflow after PCI, combined with TCM intervention based on conventional WM treatment can further reduce the no-reflow rate of patients. Clinical studies have shown that Compound Danshen dripping pills combined with conventional WM can be used to improve coronary blood flow in patients with coronary no-reflow after PCI (strong recommendation). For patients with coronary no-reflow after PCI, compared with conventional WM, combined application of Compound Danshen dripping pills based on conventional WM after surgery can reduce the incidence of no-reflow [49]. A meta-analysis of RCTs including twenty RCTs involving 2574 participants with CAD indicated that Compound Danshen dripping pills combined with PCI treatment prominently reduced the incidence of MACE, prominently improved vascular endothelial function and cardiac function, dramatically mitigated hemorheology, blood lipid parameters and inflammatory mediators compared with PCI alone [50].

In conclusion, current clinical studies suggest that CPMs can improve IMR and LVEF in CMVD patients, reduce the frequency of angina attacks, shorten the duration of angina, extend the time of treadmill exercise, reduce the dosage of nitroglycerin, improve activity tolerance and quality of life.

Mechanism of action

CMVD is caused by the interaction of multiple factors and mechanisms, including abnormal microvascular function, vascular endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, etc. These physiological and pathological changes play different roles in the occurrence and development of coronary microcirculation [12, 51]. Existing studies have shown that TCM can treat CMVD by protecting coronary microvascular endothelial cells, improving vascular endothelial function, inhibiting inflammatory response, alleviating oxidative stress, promoting angiogenesis, and improving blood rheology (Figure 1).

 Figure 1 

Mechanism of TCM in the treatment of CMD

Protect coronary microvascular endothelial cells

Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) play an important role in maintaining the normal function of cardiac microvascular, and the dysfunction of CMEC is often preceded by myocardial injury [52]. In the process of occurrence and development of CMVD, the injury of CMECs is the core link. The normal functions such as proliferation, adhesion, migration, apoptosis, and secretion of CMECs are damaged, leading to CMVD, which can cause coronary microvascular constriction, decreased CFR, and insufficient myocardial blood supply clinically, which are the early manifestations of CMVD [53, 54]. An animal experiment has shown that Tongxinluo capsule can effectively protect the structure and function of myocardial microvascular endothelial cells after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, protect microvessels and myocardial perfusion units, and reduce the size of no-reflow and myocardial infarction [55]. Tongxinluo could protect Human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) from hypoxia /reoxygenation (H/R) injury by promoting autophagy through activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK pathway [56]. Han et al. [57] the study found that Qishen Yiqi dropping pills could protect HCMECs from impairment by hypoxia or reoxygenation, in addition, Qishen Yiqi dropping pills could exhibit effects on attenuating microvascular damage and albumin leakage after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, showing a role in maintaining endothelial junctions, caveolae, and collagen in the basement membrane of microvessels.

Improve vascular endothelial function

The vascular endothelium plays an important role in maintaining the normal vascular system. The abnormal coronary vascular endothelial function could cause the occurrence and development of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, thus protecting vascular endothelial function is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of CMVD. Coronary endothelial dysfunction is closely related to the imbalance between vasoconstrictor factor endothelin-1 (ET-1) and diastolic factor nitric oxide (NO) caused by vascular endothelial injury [58]. Decreased production and excessive depletion of NO have been confirmed to be closely related to microvessels relaxation dysfunction, and enhanced vasoconstricttion function is associated with increased levels of ET-1, catecholamine, and acetylcholine. The signaling pathway mediated by NO is a protective factor of endothelial cells and can inhibit platelet activation by reducing the expression of cell adhesion markers and enhancing the activity of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway to reduce endothelial cell damage [59]. Many studies have confirmed the improving effect of TCM on vascular endothelial function from the perspective of regulating the content of ET-1 and NO antagonistic factors, to treat CMVD. Tongxinluo capsule can improve the endothelial-dependent vasodilation mediated by brachial artery flow, increase the serum levels of NO and adiponectin, reduce the serum levels of ET-1, protect the vascular endothelial function in patients with CMVD, and then relieve the clinical symptoms of patients with angina pectoris [19, 60]. Animal experimental studies have shown that Tongxinluo capsule can up-regulate the expression of related endothelial cell adhesion proteins and the activity of eNOS during reperfusion, reverse the hypertonic state of endothelial cells, improve the damage of microvascular endothelial functional barrier, and prevent the continuous development of myocardial reperfusion injury [61]. Dong et al.'s study [62] found that Compound Danshen dripping pills combined with ticagrelor could significantly improve the levels of serum VEGF and NO, reduce the level of ET-1, improve vascular endothelial function in patients with angina after PCI, and thus reduce the number of angina attacks, shorten the duration of each angina, and improve the quality of life. Shexiang Baoxin pills can significantly reduce the frequency of angina attacks in CMVD patients, improve endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) mediated by brachial artery flow, reduce serum Ang II, CRP, and ET-1 levels, increase serum NO level, and protect vascular endothelial function [28, 63].

Inhibit inflammation

Coronary microvascular endothelial cell injury is the core of CMVD induction. Inflammatory response plays an important role in the occurrence and development of coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction. Inflammatory factors not only cause vascular endothelial injury and intima thickening but also reduce the synthesis of NO and prostacyclin in endothelial cells, activating immune cells to release human endothelin (ET) and ET immune-like activators, resulting in abnormal endothelial function [64]. A variety of inflammatory factors can participate in the occurrence and development of CMVD through the endothelial cell injury pathway [65, 66]. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is a recognized marker of inflammation, and its serum level is often used to describe chronic low-grade inflammation in the whole body [67]. CFR is an effective indicator of abnormal coronary microcirculation function when coronary angiography does not show obvious stenosis. In a study involving 21 CMVD patients and 21 healthy volunteers, Recio-Mayoral et al. [68] divided patients with CMVD into high CRP group (> 3mg/L) and low CRP group (≤3mg/L) according to CRP levels. The results showed that the CFR of the low CRP group was not significantly different from that of the healthy group, while the CFR of the high CRP group was significantly lower than that of the low CRP group. This study was the first to confirm the correlation between chronic low-grade inflammation and CMVD, and the effect of CRP on CFR was dose-dependent. Tong et al. [69] and Aryan et al. [70] found that hs-CRP-mediated chronic inflammation was an independent predictor of CMD in patients with ischemic heart disease. TNF-α, IL-6, and leptin can activate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase in the vessel wall, which can reduce NO bioavailability by promoting hyperoxide anion production, ultimately leading to coronary microvessel diastolic function injury [71]. Chen et al. [72] revealed that routine treatment combined with Danhong injection could reduce plasma levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine, thus improving vascular endothelial function and relieving clinical symptoms of patients. Tongxinluo capsule can effectively reduce the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 in CMVD patients, increase the level of serum IL-10, inhibit the body's inflammatory response, and thus improve the clinical symptoms of patients [19]. Shexiang Baoxin pills combined with conventional WM have a significant effect on patients with angina pectoris of CAD, which can effectively reduce the levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP and inhibit the inflammatory response of patients [33]. Xuefu Zhuyu decoction, compound Danshen dripping pills, and Yindan Xinnaotong soft capsule can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of angina patients, and reduce the levels of serum inflammatory factors hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α [36, 73, 74].

Reduce oxidative stress

CMVD is caused by the interaction of multiple factors and multiple mechanisms, among which oxidative stress is considered to be one of the main mechanisms. Under oxidative stress, the production of oxygen free radicals increases, triggering mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium overload, DNA damage, and myocardial membrane lipid peroxidation, which can eventually lead to cell death [75]. A large amount of ROS is produced during cell ischemia and hypoxia. When it exceeds the antioxidant capacity of the body, it can lead to lipid peroxidation of vascular endothelial cells, gradually peeling away from blood vessels, resulting in exposed collagen fibers under the endothelium, activating the endogenous coagulation system, and further causing platelet activation, up-regulation of adhesion factors, fibrin aggregation, a decrease of plasmin activity, and formation of microthrombus. These changes aggravate local ischemia and form a vicious cycle, resulting in CMVD [76]. Yindan Xinnaotong soft capsule after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) emergency PCI can significantly reduce the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxide (LPO), and increase the superoxide dismutase (SOD) level. The oxidative stress index of the body can be effectively improved, the oxidative stress injury can be alleviated, and then the myocardial perfusion of patients can be improved and the coronary blood flow reserve function can be enhanced [77]. Tongxinluo capsule combined with routine WM treatment in patients with no-reflow after PCI can reduce serum MDA level, increase SOD level, inhibit oxidative stress, improve myocardial microperfusion, and improve cardiac function indicators, and thus improve the prognosis of patients [78]. Gu et al. [73] clinical research found that Compound Danshen dripping pills could reduce the serum levels of LPO, SOD, and MDA in patients with angina pectoris of CAD, reduce the oxidative stress damage of the body, and improve the clinical symptoms of angina pectoris patients. Based on conventional WM treatment, Qishen Yiqi dripping pills can further reduce serum SOD, advanced glycation end products, MDA, advanced oxidation protein products oxidative stress indexes, reduce the oxidative stress injury of the body, and then relieve the clinical symptoms of myocardial ischemia, chest tightness, palpation and so on in CAD patients, improve the prognosis of patients [79].

Promote angiogenesis

The decreased number of myocardial capillaries is one of the important determinants of CFR. Angiogenesis can effectively improve CMVD by increasing blood supply capacity, restoring cardiac function, and improving hemodynamics. Zhang et al. [80] found that Xuefu Zhuyu decoction could up-regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein, increase the number of endothelial cells in ischemic myocardium, increase myocardial microvascular density, and promote angiogenesis in rats with acute myocardial ischemia. Chen et al. [81] found that Shexiang Baoxin pills promoted angiogenesis by up-regulating VEGF level in CAD patients. Clinical studies have found that based on conventional WM treatment, the combined application of Shexiang Baoxin pills can effectively reduce the levels of related hemorheological indexes such as fibrin, plasma viscosity, and whole blood viscosity in CAD patients, improve the levels of serum angiogenesis factors NO, NOS and VEGF, and further promote the establishment of coronary collateral circulation, reduce the incidence frequency and shorten the duration of CAD[82]. Zhang et al. [83] found that Shexiang Baoxin pills regulated endothelial cell function and signal transduction pathway by activating macrophages, promoting human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and migration and tubule formation, angiogenesis factor mRNA and protein expression, and promoted angiogenesis. Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills clould alleviate cardiac dysfunction in rats with CMD caused by ligation of the left anterior descending branch by inducing M2 macrophage polarization to promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium [84]. Vascular growth factors such as VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are helpful to increase vascular permeability, angiogenesis and intravascular homeostasis. Zhang et al. [85] found that Qishen Yiqi dripping pills could increase the vascular density of the left ventricle and reduce the infarct area by increasing the protein expression levels of VEGF and bFGF and mRNA level of platelet-derived growth factor-B in myocardial tissue of myocardial infarction rats.

Improve hemorheology

Sustained hemodynamic abnormalities can lead to structural damage of microvessels, increased vascular walls permeability, capillary leakage, basement membrane damage and secondary thickening, vascular cavity stenosis or even occlusion, microthrombus formation, microcirculation ischemia, hypoxia, and then lead to organ dysfunction. The hemorheological parameters are closely related to the severity of CAD, and the improvement of various hemorheological parameters such as high viscosity can improve coronary blood flow. Li et al. [86] observed the influence of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills on hemorheology in elderly cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases patients, and confirmed that oral administration of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills based on the treatment of the primary disease could significantly reduce hemorheology indexes such as whole blood low shear viscosity, whole blood high shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, and hematocrit, and it is safe and effective. Huang et al. [87] studied the effects of the Compound Danshen dripping pills on hemorheology, blood lipid, and inflammatory response transmitters in elderly CAD patients. The results showed that Compound Danshen dropping pills combined with conventional WM could not only regulate lipid metabolism and reduce the inflammatory reaction, but also improve hemorheological indexes such as whole blood high shear viscosity, whole blood low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and the efficacy is better than that of conventional WM alone. Xue et al. [63] found that Shexiang Baoxin pills combined with Nicodil could significantly improve cardiac function and hemodynamic indexes such as whole blood viscosity (high shear value, low shear value), plasma specific viscosity, and platelet adhesion rate in patients with coronary microcirculation dysfunction in myocardial infarction. Compared with WM alone, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on the basis of conventional WM treatment can significantly improve the hemodynamics, reduce myocardial ischemia and improve clinical symptoms such as angina [74].

Conclusion and perspectives

With the rapid development of evidence-based medicine and coronary interventional techniques, the clinical significance of CMVD has received increasing attention. CMVD has a complex etiology and pathogenesis, its treatment remains limited to improving lifestyle, controlling the traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, and relieving myocardial ischemia. There are currently no large sample randomized clinical trials using cardiovascular events as the assessed endpoint and CMVD as the study subject. Therefore, it is unclear which therapy option can lower the rate of cardiovascular events in CMVD. And modern medicine still lacks an effective treatment for CMVD.

In recent years, the understanding of CMVD in TCM has been considerably advanced, and numerous clinical types of research have been conducted. The available clinical evidence suggests that treatment for CMVD with TCM has been shown to reduce the attack times of angina pectoris, shorten the duration of angina pectoris attacks, prolong the duration of treadmill exercise, reduce the dosage of nitroglycerin, ameliorate TCM syndrome, improve cardiac function, improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, reduce mortality and rehospitalization rates, and improve long-term prognosis, etc. But there is a lack of evidence-based suggestions for the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD with integrated Chinese and WM. This paper systematically summarizes the clinical evidence of proprietary TCM for the treatment of coronary microvascular disease recommended by the Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of CMVD with integrated Chinese and WM, however, few high-quality evidence-based clinical studies fit the criteria, and several of the outcome indicators are not yet supported by sufficient evidence-based evidence. The ultimate level of evidence and the severity of the recommendation were impacted by some of the included studies' confusing statements of sample size estimation, random assignment concealment strategies, blinded designs, and shedding rates. Future clinical studies on CMVD treatment with TCM should be conducted in large-sample, multicenter randomized clinical trials with cardiovascular events as the observed endpoint, to test the possibility of developing new drugs and therapies specifically targeting CMVD to improve clinical endpoints and to establish treatments with evidence-based medical evidence. TCM has multi-target and multi-path therapeutic characteristics, and certain results have been achieved so far, as research advances, it is thought that TCM offers enormous potential for CMVD prevention and therapy.

Abbreviations

CMVD: Coronary microvascular disease; TCM: traditional Chinese medicine; WM: Western Medicine; CFR: coronary flow reserve; MACE: major adverse cardiovascular events; COVADIS: Coronary Vasomotion Disorders International Study Group; ESC: European Society of Cardiology; AHA: American Heart Association; MINOCA: myocardial infarction with no-obstructive coronary arteries; EAPCI: European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions; INOCA: Ischemia and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease; IMR: index of microvascular resistance; CPMs: Chinese patent medicines; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; CTA: coronary computed tomography angiography; OCAD: obstructive coronary artery disease; CAD: coronary artery disease; CMD: coronary microvascular dysfunction; TIMI: thrombolysis in myocardial infarction; FFR: fractional flow reserve; SPECT: single-photon emission computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; STEMI: ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; CMECs: cardiac microvascular endothelial cells; H/R: hypoxia/reoxygenation; I/R: ischemia/reperfusion; ET-1: endothelin-1; NO: nitric oxide; FMD: flow-mediated vasodilation; CRP: C-reactive protein; hs-CRP: hypersensitive C-reactive protein; AMI: acute myocardial infarction; MDA: malondialdehyde; LPO: lipid peroxide; SOD: superoxide dismutase; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; bFGF: basic fibroblast growth factor.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 82174326), the Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No: ZYYCXTD-C-202203), the “Innovation Team Development Plan” of the Ministry of Education-Research on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (no. IRT_16R54), the Tianjin Research Innovation Project for Postgraduate Students (no. 2021YJSB294), and the Graduate Research Innovation Project of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (no. YJSKC-20211012).

Author Contributions

Zhihua Yang, Yangxi Liu, and Zhihui Song wrote the manuscript. Yujian Fan, Shanshan Lin, Zhao Ge, and Shaoling Feng performed the literature search, selected relevant articles, and interpreted data; Zhihua Yang, Yu Liu, and Yingfei Bi revised the manuscript; Yi Wang, Xianliang Wang, and Jingyuan Mao designed and supervised this work. All authors have read and approved the final submission.

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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Author contact

Corresponding authors: Xianliang Wang: xlwang1981com, Yi Wang: wangyiedu.cn, Jingyuan Mao: jymaocom.

Received 2023-5-2
Accepted 2023-5-24
Published 2023-6-4

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