Effect of endurance training on coronary artery size and function in healthy men: an invasive followup study.
In eight healthy male volunteers (cardiologists; age 36 +/- 5 yr), bicycle spiroergometry, Doppler echocardiography, and quantitative coronary angiography with intracoronary Doppler measurements before and after completion of a physical endurance exercise program of >5 mo duration were performed. Maximum oxygen uptake increased from 46 +/- 6 to 54 +/- 5 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (P = 0.04), maximum ergometric workload changed from 3.8 +/- 0.3 to 4.4 +/- 0.3 W/kg (P = 0.001), and left ventricular mass index increased from 82 +/- 18 to 108 +/- 29 g/m(2) (P = 0.001). The right, left main, and left anterior descending coronary artery cross-sectional area increased significantly in response to exercise. Before versus at the end of the exercise program, flow-induced left anterior descending coronary artery cross-sectional area was 10.1 +/- 3.5 and 11.0 +/- 3.9 mm(2), respectively (P = 0.03), nitroglycerin-induced left coronary calibers increased significantly, and coronary flow velocity reserve changed from 3.8 +/- 0.8 to 4.5 +/- 0.7 (P = 0.001). Left coronary artery correlated significantly with ventricular mass and maximum oxygen uptake, and coronary flow velocity reserve was significantly associated with maximum workload.
Windecker
Stephan
S
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland.
Allemann
Yves
Y
Billinger
Michael
M
Pohl
Tilmann
T
Hutter
Damian
D
Orsucci
Thomas
T
Blaga
Laurent
L
Meier
Bernhard
B
Seiler
Christian
C
D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000241:Adenosine