title: [Endothelial function assessment by positron emission tomography in patients with hypercholesterolemia].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unidad PET/CT Ciclotrón, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalpan, México, DF. alexanderick@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Erick Alexánderson
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rosas
authors.forename: Aloha Meave
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Leonardo García-Rojas
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Mónica Rodríguez
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Pedro Alberto Lamothe
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: José Antonio Talayero
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Petra
authors.forename: Carlos Sierra
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Patricio Cruz
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: García-Villa
authors.forename: Hugo Gerardo Rodríguez
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.forename: María Barrera
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Rocío Elisa Carrera
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cerón
authors.forename: Rodrigo Calleja
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Alfonso Martínez
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Alejandro Ricalde
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alcocer
authors.forename: José Luis Romero
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.forename: Graciela Alexánderson
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rosas