Ischemic preconditioning by repeated exercise tests involves nitric oxide up-regulation.
BACKGROUND
Animal studies show that nitric oxide is involved in delayed ischaemic preconditioning.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether plasma nitrates/nitrites (NOx-, as measure of nitric oxide) are modified by two consecutive effort tests and whether these changes translate into clinical improvement.


METHODS
There were studied 22 patients with ischemic heart disease, who performed two effort tests at 24-hour interval. Plasma NOx- level was determined and compared before and after both stress tests. Peak effort, double product at peak effort and maximal ST segment depression were considered clinical end-points and were compared between the two tests.


RESULTS
Plasma NOx- increased slightly after the first exercise test compared to pre-test value (17.05 +/- 1.6 vs. 15.38 +/- 1.4 micromol/ml). In turn, after the second test a significant rise of NOx- level (23.65 +/- 2.2 vs. 15.10 +/- 1.3 micromol/ml, p < 0.03) was noticed. The pre-test value was practically identical between the two tests. Peak effort and double product at peak effort remained unchanged between the two tests. Although the ischaemic stress was the same, ST depression was significantly lower (p < 0.01) at the second test (0.85 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.73 +/- 0.16 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows an increase of plasma NOx- level after the second of two consecutive exercise stress tests at 24 hour interval, along with a decrease of electrocardiographic consequences of approximately the same ischemic stress. These findings are consistent with experimental data in animals, which point to nitric oxide as both trigger and effector of ischaemic preconditioning.
Zdrenghea
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Cardiology Department, Rehabilitation Clinical Hospital, 46-50, Viilor Str., 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. zdrenghea@hotmail.co
Bódizs
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G
Ober
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MC
Ilea
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide