Preliminary Study to Understand the Role of Gut Microbiota on Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon (CSFP)

The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is characterized by a delayed flow of contrast medium through the coronary arteries, predominantly affecting smokers and young men with acute coronary syndrome. Over 20% of these patients experience readmission to coronary care units due to recurring chest pain. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies have boosted microbiome studies, revealing that the microbial community within the human body contributes to disease progression by releasing various substances. While the gut microbiome’s role in cardiovascular disease is well-documented, its relationship with CSFP remains under investigation. This study aims to compare the gut microbiota of CSFP patients to healthy controls. Results highlight the potential significance of the genus Gemmiger and species Anaerobutyricum in the selenium metabolism pathway, suggesting their viability as microbial indicators for CSFP, especially given the link between Selenium deficiency and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, an increased presence of bacteria involved in producing trimethylamine (TMA), a metabolite linked to cardiovascular issues, was observed in CSFP patients. Although the study did not achieve statistical significance due to sample size limitations, findings support the potential importance of these microbial markers.