Functional integrity and aging of the left internal thoracic artery after coronary artery bypass surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To study the endothelial function in the left internal thoracic artery after coronary artery bypass surgery and to identify predictors of early dysfunction, we performed a provocative test with acetylcholine in 23 male patients who underwent routine postoperative coronary angiography.


METHODS
The change in mean diameter of the proximal thoracic artery was assessed by quantitative angiography after selective injections of acetylcholine and nitroglycerin.


RESULTS
The thoracic artery showed a 6.8% (P <. 001) and 9.0% (P <.001) increase in mean diameter after acetylcholine and nitroglycerin administration, respectively. Vasodilative responses to acetylcholine and nitroglycerin administration were strongly correlated (R: 0.88; P <.001). Among the common risk factors, only age was associated with an impairment in the vasodilative response of the arterial graft (P =.001), and acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was inversely correlated to the age of the patient (R: 0.69; P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelium-dependent vasodilative response to acetylcholine administration seems well preserved in the left internal thoracic artery after surgery. Common risk factors, except for age, do not affect the functional integrity of the arterial graft. The vasodilative properties of the graft depend on the age of the patient and do not deteriorate over time after operation.
Amoroso
G
G
Department of Cardiology and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Thoraxcenter, University Hospital of Groningen, The Netherlands. G.Amoroso@thorax.azg.nl
Tio
R A
RA
Mariani
M A
MA
Van Boven
A J
AJ
Jessurun
G A
GA
Monnink
S H
SH
Grandjean
J G
JG
Boonstra
P W
PW
Crijns
H J
HJ
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000109:Acetylcholine