Background in patients with typical angina but angiographically normal coronary arteries, abnormal vasomotor function is assumed to be a major underlying cause. However, data on this issue are conflicting, and recent ...
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Background in patients with typical angina but angiographically normal coronary arteries, abnormal vasomotor function is assumed to be a major underlying cause. However, data on this issue are conflicting, and recent studies suggest that fluid dynamic abnormalities exist in these patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether early stages of atherosclerosis are characterized by alterations of baseline coronary hemodynamics and endothelium-independent vasomotion. Besides established intracoronary Doppler parameters, heterogeneity of perfusion was assessed and related to early signs of atherosclerosis as determined by electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT). Methods In 59 patients with typical angina and angiographically normal or near-normal coronary arteries, intracoronary Doppler measurements were performed in all 3 major coronary arteries. Baseline average peak velocity (bAPV) and hyperemic average peak velocity (hAPV) in response to intracoronary injection of adenosine were measured, and coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed as variability of bAPV, hAPV, and CFVR and was calculated as (STD/MEAN) - 100. Doppler data were analyzed according to tertiles of the EBCT-derived Agatston calcium;core (ie, score 0-1 [lowest tertile], 2-28 [medium tertile], and > 28 [highest tertile]). Results The mean EBCT-derived Agatston calcium score was 49 +/- 107. No coronary calcium was observed in 17 (29%) patients. The mean values of bAPV, hAPV, and CFVR were not different between the calcium score tertiles. However, patients in the highest tertile had a significantly increased variability index of bAPV (29.6%+/- 11.6%) compared with patients in the lowest tertile (13.4%+/-7.3%, P < .0001). Variability of CFVR was also increased in these patients (15.5%+/- 11.7% vs 10.5%+/-4.0%, P =.03). Conclusion These results indicate that early stages of atherosclerosis are characterized by microvascular abnormalities that do not uniformly aff
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with syndrome X have altered potassium metabolism. BACKGROUND Patients with syndrome X have angina pectoris and exercise induced ST segment depres...
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OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with syndrome X have altered potassium metabolism. BACKGROUND Patients with syndrome X have angina pectoris and exercise induced ST segment depression on the electrocardiogram despite normal coronary angiograms. Increasing evidence suggests that myocardial ischemia is uncommon in these patients. Altered potassium metabolism causing interstitial potassium accumulation in the myocardium may be an alternative mechanism for chest pain and ST segment depression in syndrome X. METHODS We compared the magnitude of exercise-induced hyperkalemia in 16 patients with syndrome X (12 female and four male, mean +/- SD age 53 +/- 6 years) and 15 matched healthy control subjects. The participants underwent a bicycle test at a fixed load of 75 W for 10 min, and blood samples were taken for analysis of potassium, catecholamines and lactate before, during and in the recovery period after exercise. In five patients with syndrome X, the test was repeated during alpha(1) adrenoceptor blockade. RESULTS Baseline concentrations of serum potassium, plasma catecholamines and plasma lactate were similar in patients and control subjects. The rate of exercise-induced increment of serum potassium was increased in the patients (70 +/- 29 vs. 30 +/- 21 mu mol/liter/min in control subjects, p < 0.001). Six patients, who stopped before 10 min of exercise, showed very rapid increments in serum potassium concentration. Compared to the control subjects, patients also demonstrated larger increments in rate-pressure product, plasma norepinephrine and lactate concentrations during exercise. The rate of serum potassium increment correlated with the rate of plasma norepinephrine increment in the patients (r = 0.63, p < 0.02), but not in the control subjects (r = 0.01, p = 0.97). Blockade of alpha(1) adrenoceptors decreased systolic blood pressure at baseline, but did not influence the increment of serum potassium, plasma catecholamines an
Not all patients with angina have myocardial ischemia. A sizable minority-up to 30% of angina patients studied at tertiary referral centers-have normal coronary angiograms. Such patients often undergo an expensive and...
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Not all patients with angina have myocardial ischemia. A sizable minority-up to 30% of angina patients studied at tertiary referral centers-have normal coronary angiograms. Such patients often undergo an expensive and extensive array of testing and treatment. Yet the prognosis is generally good, and symptomatic management may be effective.
Chest pain with normal coronary angiograms is often associated with chronic sympathetic activation anxiety, and depression, and is resistant to conventional antianginal treatment. The practice of transcendental medita...
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Chest pain with normal coronary angiograms is often associated with chronic sympathetic activation anxiety, and depression, and is resistant to conventional antianginal treatment. The practice of transcendental meditation, a standard relaxation method for 3 months twice daily, significantly improved exercise tolerance, angina episodes, and quality of life in 9 women;the positive findings in this study warrant further research.
The combination of angina pectoris, angiographically normal epicardial coronary arteries, and a positive exercise test is referred to as syndrome X. Previous studies have demonstrated an impaired coronary flow reserve...
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The combination of angina pectoris, angiographically normal epicardial coronary arteries, and a positive exercise test is referred to as syndrome X. Previous studies have demonstrated an impaired coronary flow reserve and a peripheral vascular dysfunction, suggesting that vascular abnormalities in syndrome X may not be confined to the heart. The aim of this study was to investigate whether any vascular disorder of syndrome X is due to intrinsic structural or functional disturbances in resistance arteries. We compared 16 patients with syndrome X (56.6 +/- 1.2 years, 3 men) with 15 matched control subjects. Myocardial blood flow was measured with N-13-ammonia positron emission tomography. Forearm blood flow was measured in the brachial artery with high-resolution ultrasound. Gluteal subcutaneous resistance arteries were dissected and mounted on a myograph for measurement of active tension development, lumen diameter, and media thickness. Baseline myocardial blood flow was similar in patients and controls, but dipyridamole-induced hyperemia was decreased in patients (1.67 +/- 0.13 vs 2.31 +/- 0.12 ml/min/g, p <0.01). Patients and controls had similar baseline forearm blood flow, but hyperemic flow after transient occlusion of the brachial artery was impaired in patients (198 +/- 20 vs 273 +/- 32 ml/min, p < 0.05). isolated resistance arteries showed no differences in constriction to noradrenaline, or relaxation to acetylcholine, dipyridamole, or nitroglycerin. Furthermore, the ratio between media thickness and lumen diameter were similar in syndrome X patients and controls. Our data show that when compared with a well-matched control group, syndrome X patients have a decreased coronary and peripheral vasodilator capacity. However, this is not reflected by functional abnormalities or structural changes as evaluated in subcutaneous resistance arteries. We conclude that syndrome X is not a generalized intrinsic abnormality of the resistance circulation. (C) 1999 by Excerp
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