title: Effect of anger provocation on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation.
abstract: Anger is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease events, although the mechanisms for this relation are unclear. The effects of an anger-provoking interview compared with a neutral interview on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation assessed by brachial artery ultrasound were examined in 14 healthy subjects without coronary heart disease risk factors. The anger provocation condition, but not the neutral condition, caused a significant impairment in endothelium-dependent vasodilation at 90 minutes compared with baseline (p = 0.004) and 30 minutes (p = 0.013). Similarly, endothelium-independent vasodilation was significantly impaired at 90 minutes after the angry interview compared with baseline (p = 0.003) and 30 minutes (p = 0.001). The decreases in endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation were greater after the anger-provoking interview than after the neutral interview, especially between 30 and 90 minutes. In conclusion, preliminary results suggest that an episode of anger is associated with a dysregulation in endothelium-dependent and -independent pathways, suggesting that these mechanisms might contribute to the link between anger and coronary heart disease events.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Cardiovascular Health and Hypertension Program, Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. ds2231@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Daichi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shimbo
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.forename: Oluwaseun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akinola
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gerin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin