title: The role of quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography in the study of coronary microcirculation in athlete's heart.
abstract: Quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed with harmonic power Doppler analysis using the background subtraction and Levovist (Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) as contrast agent in a triggered modality. Quantitative analysis of echocontrast was performed offline with PC software, obtaining the transit curves of microbubbles through the coronary capillary system. Coronary microcirculation in athletes showed a behavior substantially comparable with control participants, although at a higher level. Training determines a physiologic left ventricular hypertrophy that counterbalances the dilatation in the left ventricular chambers because of the higher blood volume in athletes compared with control participants. Angiogenesis and several functional adaptations (relaxation of small coronary arteries, increased production of nitric oxide by the coronary endothelium, or both), represent the potential mechanisms that allow an optimal distribution of oxygen and of substrates to the hypertrophied myocardium of the athletes.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Italy. dibellov@ifc.cnr.it
authors.forename: Vitantonio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Bello
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertini
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talini
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mengozzi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palagi
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paterni
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000494:pharmacology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008833:Microcirculation; D008863:Microspheres; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C059891:SHU 508; D004176:Dipyridamole