[Endothelial function assessment by positron emission tomography in patients with hypercholesterolemia].
Hypercholesterolemia prompts to endothelial dysfunction (ED) and ED predisposes to atherogenesis. ED appears early in the course of atherogenesis and it is considered a coronary artery disease (CAD) marker.


OBJECTIVE
To assess endothelial function (EF) using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in asymptomatic patients with recent dyslipidemia diagnosis and without history of ischemic heart disease and previous hypolipemiant treatment.


METHODS
Fourteen asymptomatic patients with recent dyslipidemia diagnosis (< 6 months) were studied by obtaining a lipid profile, blood glucose, and a three phase 13N-ammonia PET scan: rest, cold pressor test (CPT) and pharmacologic stress with adenosine. EF was assessed by calculating the coronary flow reserve (CFR), endothelial-dependant vasodilatation index (EDVI), and coronary blood flow increase percentage in CPT (% Delta CF).


RESULTS
79% of patients with dyslipidemia had ED and all their values were lower than those previously published as normal: rest coronary flow 0.44 +/- 0.12 vs 0.57 +/- 0.147 (p = 0.002), CPT coronary flow 0.57 +/- 0.17 vs 0.88 +/- 0.26 (p = 0.001), stress coronary flow 1.24 +/- 0.05 vs 1.81 +/- 0.35 (p = 0.005), EDVI 1.28 +/- 0.25 vs 1.53 +/- 0.24 (p 0.017), CRF 2.79 +/- 0.94 vs 3.15 +/- 0.48 (p 0.198) and % Delta CF 29.08 +/- 24.62% vs 53 +/- 24.60% (p 0.022).


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic patients in early stages of dyslipidemia showed a greater ED prevalence that was detected by 13N-ammonia PET scan.
Rosas
Erick Alexánderson
EA
Unidad PET/CT Ciclotrón, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalpan, México, DF. alexanderick@yahoo.com
González
Aloha Meave
AM
Castillo
Leonardo García-Rojas
LG
Valero
Mónica Rodríguez
MR
Molina
Pedro Alberto Lamothe
PA
Petra
José Antonio Talayero
JA
Fernández
Carlos Sierra
CS
García-Villa
Patricio Cruz
PC
Zanella
Hugo Gerardo Rodríguez
HG
Pérez
María Barrera
MB
Cerón
Rocío Elisa Carrera
RE
Torres
Rodrigo Calleja
RC
García
Alfonso Martínez
AM
Alcocer
Alejandro Ricalde
AR
Ibarra
José Luis Romero
JL
Rosas
Graciela Alexánderson
GA