Effect of external counterpulsation on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels.
Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) significantly augments diastolic blood flow and has been postulated to improve endothelial function by increased shear stress. We examined the effects of EECP on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels. Plasma nitrate and nitrite (NOx) and ET-1 levels were measured serially in 13 patients with coronary artery disease who received 1-hour daily treatments of EECP over 6 weeks. During the course of EECP therapy, plasma NOx progressively increased and plasma ET-1 progressively decreased. After 36 hours of EECP, there was a 62 +/- 17% increase in plasma NOx compared with baseline (43.6 +/- 4.3 vs 27.1 +/- 2.6 micromol/L, p <0.0001) and a 36 +/- 8% decrease in plasma ET-1 (76.7 +/- 9.5 vs 119.5 +/- 8.5 pg/L, p <0.0001). At 3 months after completion of EECP, NOx remained 12 +/- 11% above baseline (p = 0.002), and ET-1 remained 11 +/- 10% below baseline (p = 0.0068). Our data provides neurohormonal evidence to support the hypothesis that EECP improves endothelial function.
Akhtar
Mateen
M
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, USA.
Wu
Gui-Fu
GF
Du
Zhi-Min
ZM
Zheng
Zhen-Sheng
ZS
Michaels
Andrew D
AD
D000328:Adult; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D015908:Counterpulsation / Q000379:methods*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000628:therapy; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D010100:Oxygen; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019332:Endothelin-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010100:Oxygen