Over the past decades, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in ischemic heart disease have been primarily focused on obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, important gender differences exist in ischemic heart disease. The total burden of atherosclerosis is lower in women than in men, with a more diffuse, non-obstructive pattern of CAD. In the landmark Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) -study, it has been found that in more than 50% of middle-aged women with symptoms of chest pain vascular dysfunction in the microvascular coronary arteries is the main cause of recurrent angina.

It is a great pleasure to welcome several outstanding experts at our symposium in the Radboudumc. We invite you to take knowledge of the latest insights in the diagnosis and hope to welcome you on our symposium on February 9th 2018.