Physiology of Inflammation, Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Myocardial Injury resulting from Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Treatment of coronary artery narrowing’s with balloons and stents has many beneficial results, however, can also activate multiple pathways that can have unintentional harmful consequences. The role of inflammation in this remains unclear. This thesis examines the effect colchicine, a safe and widely available anti-inflammatory medication, has on inflammation and injury associated with stenting coronary arteries. Additionally, this thesis examines if anti-inflammatory medications can improve the function of the coronary microvessels. The coronary microvessels are too small to be fixed with stents, yet when their function is impaired, heart injury is worse.