title: Assessment of coronary vasomotor function: old and new tools.
abstract: Atherosclerosis has an impact on the vasomotor reaction of coronary segments to iodinated non-ionic contrast agents. Angiographically normal coronary segments show divergent vasomotor reactions to iodixanol or iopromide according to the presence of, and distance from, a coronary atherosclerotic lesion. The mechanism responsible for the above-mentioned vasomotor effect does not seem to involve flow-mediated vasodilation or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. On the other hand, a cyclooxygenase product may be, at least in part, responsible for the vasodilating effect of non-ionic agents on epicardial coronary arteries. These findings have potential clinical implications that are herein discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Limbruno
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Petronio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baglini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Caterina
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide; C044834:iodixanol