In cardiology, “coronary flow slowness” usually refers to the Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon, and “ANOCA” refers to Angina with Non‑Obstructive Coronary Arteries. They’re closely related.
Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon (CSF)
- Blood moves slowly through coronary arteries on angiography
- No major blockage is seen
- Thought to involve microvascular dysfunction (tiny vessels not working properly)
- Symptoms:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Sometimes palpitations
- ECG and stress tests may look like ischemia even without blockage
ANOCA (Angina with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries)
This is a broader category:
- Patient has angina symptoms
- Angiogram shows no significant stenosis
- Causes include:
- Coronary slow flow
- Microvascular angina
- Vasospasm (Prinzmetal-type)
- Endothelial dysfunction
So:
- Coronary slow flow = one specific mechanism
- ANOCA = umbrella diagnosis that can include coronary slow flow
Why it matters
These patients still have real ischemia, even without blockages. Treatment may include:
- Calcium channel blockers
- Nitrates
- Beta blockers (case-dependent)
- Statins
- Lifestyle changes (stress, smoking, etc.)
If you’re seeing this on a report, paste the exact line — I can interpret it precisely.