title: Coronary hemodynamics and coronary flow reserve after intracoronary diltiazem in humans.
abstract: To analyze the effect of the calcium antagonist diltiazem on coronary hemodynamics, epicardial coronary artery diameter, coronary blood flow and coronary blood flow velocity were assessed at baseline and after a 0.5 mg intracoronary bolus of diltiazem in nonstenotic coronary arteries of awake humans. Patients (n = 20) were first randomized to pretreatment with either placebo (n = 10) or isosorbide dinitrate (0.5 microgram/kg/min infusion; n = 10), and coronary flow reserve was measured before and after administration of diltiazem. There were significant increases in epicardial coronary artery diameter (10%; p = 0.0001) and coronary blood flow (30%; p = 0.0001) in all patients after administration of diltiazem. Whereas basal coronary blood flow velocity increased only slightly (7%; p = not significant), there was a significant decrease in coronary flow reserve (10%; p = 0.004). Increases in coronary diameter and blood flow after diltiazem were comparable in patients pretreated with placebo or nitrates. However, the decrease in coronary flow reserve was significant only in patients pretreated with placebo (19%; p = 0.0008). This reduction in coronary flow reserve could be due to "raising the floor" (increased baseline coronary blood flow) or "lowering the ceiling" (reduction of maximal coronary blood flow).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vrolix
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sionis
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Piessens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Lierde
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Geest
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011292:Premedication
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D004110:Diltiazem; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate