coronary flow reserve
Also written as: CFR — coronary flow reserve
The ratio of maximum coronary blood flow to resting coronary blood flow, used to assess coronary microvascular function.
Full Definition
Coronary flow reserve (CFR) represents the capacity of the coronary circulation to increase blood flow in response to increased myocardial metabolic demands. It is calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline coronary flow velocity and reflects both epicardial coronary artery stenosis and microvascular dysfunction. In cardiovascular research, CFR is measured using various imaging modalities and serves as both a diagnostic tool and research endpoint. Values below 2.0 are generally considered abnormal and indicative of impaired coronary flow reserve.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from fractional flow reserve (FFR), which specifically measures pressure-derived stenosis severity.
In Context
- "Patients with diabetes showed significantly impaired coronary flow reserve despite angiographically normal epicardial arteries." — Research article
- "The primary endpoint was the change in coronary flow reserve measured by cardiac MRI at 6 months." — Clinical trial protocol