Endothelial dysfunction, increased carotid artery intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity, and increased level of inflammatory markers are associated with variant angina.
BACKGROUND
Endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation may be associated with variant angina (VA). Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are widely used as non-invasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis.


RESULTS
A total of 254 patients with chest pain were divided into three groups according to coronary angiogram (CAG) finding. There were 76 patients (VA group: 53.5+/-10.2 years, 41 males) with normal CAG with positive ergonovine-provocation test (EPT), 58 patients (control group: 55.3+/-8.7 years, 30 males) with normal CAG with negative EPT, and 120 patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD group: 56.3+/-9.7 years, 79 males). The level of FMD was lower in the VA group than in the control group (7.7+/-3.5% vs. 9.4+/-3.8%, p=0.014). Carotid IMT was higher in the VA group than in the control group (0.58+/-0.1 mm vs. 0.54+/-0.1 mm, p=0.029). The brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) was higher in the VA group than in the control group (1445.3+/-211.8 cm/s vs. 1396.7+/-394.5 cm/s, p=0.020). The levels of monocyte cell counts was higher in patients of the VA group than in the other two groups (7545.7+/-2611.1/mm(3) vs. 6548.2+/-2156.4/mm(3) vs. 6740.9+/-1730.4/mm(3), p=0.015, respectively; monocyte cell counts: 657.2+/-242.6/mm(3) vs. 442.5+/-219.3/mm(3) vs. 490.0+/-172.0/mm(3), p=0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
VA is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid IMT, baPWV, and inflammatory markers.
Cho
Sook Hee
SH
The Heart Research Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea.
Jeong
Myung Ho
MH
Park
In Hyae
IH
Choi
Jin Soo
JS
Yoon
Hyun Ju
HJ
Kim
Kye Hun
KH
Hong
Young Joon
YJ
Park
Hyung Wook
HW
Kim
Ju Han
JH
Ahn
Youngkeun
Y
Cho
Jeong Gwan
JG
Park
Jong Chun
JC
Kang
Jung Chaee
JC
D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein