Large artery stiffness predicts ischemic threshold in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine whether large artery stiffness contributes to exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).


BACKGROUND
Large artery stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and a major determinant of pulse pressure and, thus, cardiac afterload and coronary perfusion. Clinical relevance of the hemodynamic consequences of large artery stiffening has not previously been demonstrated in relation to myocardial ischemia.


METHODS
We hypothesized that stiffer large arteries would reduce myocardial ischemic threshold as assessed by time to ST-segment depression of 0.15 mV during a treadmill exercise test in patients with CAD. Ninety-six patients with CAD (78 men) age 62 +/- 9 years (mean +/- SD) were classified as having single (52 patients), double (31 patients), or triple (13 patients) coronary vessel disease, based on angiographically confirmed stenoses >50%. Systemic arterial compliance, distensibility index, aortic pulse wave velocity, and carotid augmentation index were measured using carotid applanation tonometry and Doppler velocimetry of the ascending aorta, at rest.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, all large artery stiffness/compliance indexes correlated with time to ischemia (p = 0.01 to 0.009). Both carotid (p = 0.007) and brachial (p = 0.001) pulse pressure also correlated inversely with time to ischemia. In multivariate analysis including other major risk factors plus severity of coronary stenosis, indexes of arterial stiffness were significant independent predictors of ischemic threshold.


CONCLUSIONS
Within a patient group with moderate CAD, large artery stiffness was a major determinant of myocardial ischemic threshold.
Alfred and Baker Medical Unit, Baker Medical Research Institute, Prahran, Victoria, Australia. b.kingwell@alfred.org.au
Bronwyn A
BA
Kingwell
Tamara K
TK
Waddell
Tanya L
TL
Medley
James D
JD
Cameron
Anthony M
AM
Dart
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia; D014655:Vascular Resistance