Improved endothelial function and reversal of myocardial perfusion defects after aerobic physical training in a patient with microvascular myocardial ischemia.
The objective of this report is to document the effects of an aerobic training program on myocardial perfusion, and endothelial function abnormalities, and on the relief of angina in a patient with microvascular myocardial ischemia. A 53-year-old female patient exhibited precordial pain on effort and angiographically normal coronaries. Her symptoms had been present for 4 yrs despite pharmacologic treatment for the control of risk factors, with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy revealing an extensive reversible perfusion defect. She was submitted to aerobic training for 4 mos, obtaining significant improvement of the anginal symptoms. Additionally, after the aerobic training program, scintigraphy revealed the disappearance of the myocardial perfusion defect, with a marked improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilatory response and an improved quality-of-life score. These results suggest that aerobic training can improve endothelial function, leading to a reduction of ischemia and an improved quality-of-life in patients with microvascular myocardial ischemia.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Eduardo Elias Vieira
EE
Carvalho
Julio Cesar
JC
Crescêncio
Jorge
J
Elias
Laura Beatriz Alves
LB
Brito
Lourenço
L
Gallo
Marcus Vinicius
MV
Simões
D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017566:Microvascular Angina / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; D011788:Quality of Life; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon