title: Neurohormonal activity and vascular properties late after aortic coarctation repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coarctation of aorta (CoA) patients present cardiovascular complications late after repair the causes of which are not fully understood. Our study investigates the neurohormonal and immune activation and the elastic properties of the aorta and peripheral vessels in adult patients with coarctation of aorta (CoA), late after repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen adult patients with repaired CoA and 29 matched healthy controls underwent aortic distensibility, stiffness index, a study of the elastic properties of peripheral vessels proximal to the coarctation site and measurement of plasma cytokine and neurohormone levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distensibility index was reduced (p=0.02) and stiffness index was increased (p=0.005) in CoA patients compared to control. Augmentation index (p=0.0007) and augmented pressure (p=0.001) were higher in CoA patients and Forearm Blood Flow (FBF) index was reduced (p=0.009). Plasma levels of sICAM-1 (p=0.01), sVCAM-1 (p=0.05), E-selectin (p=0.01), sFas-ligand (p=0.02) and IL-10 (p=0.01) were also elevated in CoA patients vs control. TNF-a, IL-6, Endothelin-1 and NT-pro-BNP levels were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adults with repaired CoA seem to develop a late inflammatory reaction, which reflects a functional problem in all vessels, regardless of the initial lesion. This may explain the late complications of the disease despite early repair and improved surgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Moutafi
authors.forename: Themis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alissafi
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chamakou
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chryssanthopoulos
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thanopoulos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dellos
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xanthou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gatzoulis
authors.forename: Constantinos H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Davos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents