title: The relationship between coronary slow flow phenomenon and urotensin-II: A prospective and controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The underlying mechanism of coronary slow flow (CSF) has not yet been clarified, although many studies have been conducted to understand its pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the role of a very potent vasoconstrictor, urotensin-II (UII), in the pathophysiology of CSF. This prospective and controlled investigation aimed to evaluate the association between CSF and serum levels of UII.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study included 32 patients with slow flow in any coronary artery and 32 patients with normal coronary arteries. Coronary flow was calculated using the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) method, and CSF was defined as TFC ≥39 for the left anterior descending artery, TFC ≥27 for the circumflex coronary artery, and TFC ≥24 for the right coronary artery. UII levels in blood samples obtained from both groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UII levels were significantly higher in the CSF group than in the control group [122 pg/mL (71-831), 95 pg/mL (21-635), respectively; p<0.001]. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were lower in the CSF group, and leukocyte counts were significantly higher. A positive correlation between UII and mean TFC (r=0.524, p=0.002) was found in the CSF group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that UII, HDL, and cigarette smoking were independent indicators in predicting CSF (OR=1.010, 95% confidence interval 1.002-1014, p=0.019; OR=0.927, 95% confidence interval 0.869-0.988, p=0.019; OR=5.755, 95% confidence interval 1.272-26.041, p=0.021, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum UII levels were found to be significantly higher in the CSF group, suggesting that UII may be one of the underlying factors in the pathogenesis of CSF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University; Samsun-Turkey. drhzengin@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zengin
authors.forename: Ali Rıza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Erbay
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okuyucu
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alaçam
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meriç
authors.forename: Korhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Gedikli
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gülel
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demircan
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akın
authors.forename: Özcan
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Şahin
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D014579:Urotensins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II