Small bypass vessels, which act as a "back-up system" for the heart's main arteries, play a significant role in reducing the mortality of patients with coronary artery disease, according to a new study from researchers at Yale University, University College London (UCL) and University of Bern.
These coronary collaterals are tiny specialized blood vessels that connect larger vessels in the heart and enlarge their diameters in order to carry significant blood flow and bypass blockages.
The study, published online today in the European Heart Journal, shows that patients with lots of these vessels have a 36% reduced risk of mortality, highlighting their importance as a therapeutic target.
As part of the Yale-UCL Collaborative, lead author Dr. Pascal Meier of the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science will continue to work closely with Yale scientists to develop new cardiovascular devices and treatments.