Impact of dye injection on intracoronary pressure.
OBJECTIVE
Coronary angiography is widely used to estimate coronary blood flow velocity, as in the TIMI frame count method. However, it is unknown to what extent the injection of dye elevates intracoronary pressure which may accelerate coronary blood flow velocity. In the present study, intracoronary pressure was measured during coronary angiography.


RESULTS
In 25 patients with non-significant coronary lesions, assessed by fractional flow reserve measurement with a pressure guidewire, we recorded intracoronary pressure during dye injection for coronary angiography in the ostium of the coronary artery as well as distal to the lesion. There was a rise in mean intracoronary pressure during dye injection in both ostial and distal coronary arterial segments (from 90.8 +/- 17.2 mmHg to 96.8 +/- 18.5 mmHg and from 89.7 +/- 15.3 mmHg to 93.6 +/- 17.3 mmHg, respectively; p<0.001). Nevertheless, the absolute and relative increase in pressure was small (6.0 +/- 4.2 mmHg [6.7 +/- 4.9%] in the ostium, and 3.9 +/- 5.5 mmHg [4.2 +/- 5.7%] distally).


CONCLUSIONS
In coronary arteries without significant stenosis, coronary angiography causes only a minor increase in intracoronary pressure. The limited impact of dye injection on intracoronary blood pressure confirms the value of coronary angiography for estimation of coronary flow velocity.
Stoel
Martin
M
Thorax Centre Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Department of Cardiology, Enschede, The Netherlands. m.stoel@ziekenhuis-mst.nl
Kandhai-Ragunath
Jasveen
J
Van Houwelingen
Gert
G
Von Birgelen
Clemens
C
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C044834:iodixanol