title: Exercise-induced ischemia after successful percutaneous coronary intervention is related to distal coronary endothelial dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As endothelial dysfunction can be responsible for myocardial ischemia even in the absence of significant coronary lesions, we aimed to assess the correlation between endothelium-dependent vasomotor function and inducible ischemia late after successful coronary angioplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 30 patients without angiographic restenosis or coronary disease progression, coronary endothelial function was determined by acetylcholine infusion 6 months after elective single-vessel stenting of the left coronary artery. Acetylcholine-induced diameter changes were assessed in the proximal and distal segments of both the stented and the contralateral vessels by means of quantitative coronary angiography. A maximal workload ergometric test was also performed prior to endothelial function testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetylcholine induced significant vasoconstrictive responses in the distal but not in the proximal segments of both the stented (-11 +/- 7% versus baseline; p < .01) and the contralateral vessels (-11 +/- 6%; p < .01), which were significantly correlated (R = .48; p < .05) and were completely reverted by nitroglycerine. Inducible ischemia was the only predictive factor for distal vasoconstriction in the stented vessel (p < .01) but not in the contralateral vessel (p = .06). Patients with minor signs of ischemia at the ergometric test showed a greater vasoconstriction than those with a completely normal test (-16 +/- 7% versus -7 +/- 6%; p< .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise-induced ischemia late after successful percutaneous coronary intervention is related to distal coronary endothelial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcenter, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. smonnink@hetnet.nl
authors.forename: Stefan H J
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Monnink
authors.forename: René A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tio
authors.forename: Nic J G M
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Veeger
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Ad J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Boven
authors.forename: Wiek H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Gilst
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000109:Acetylcholine