Effects of intravenous bolus injection of nicorandil on renal artery flow velocity assessed by color Doppler ultrasound.
Previous animal studies have shown that a potassium channel opener, nicorandil, provokes vasodilation in renal microvasculature and increases renal blood flow. We conducted a clinical study that aimed to evaluate the effect of nicorandil on renal artery blood flow in comparison with nitroglycerin by using color Doppler ultrasound.



The present study enrolled 40 patients with stable coronary artery disease who had no renal arterial stenosis and renal parenchymal disease. The patients received intravenous administration of nicorandil (n=20) or nitroglycerin (n=20). Before and after the administration, renal artery blood flow velocity was measured by color-guided pulsed-wave Doppler.



The peak-systolic, end-diastolic, and mean renal artery blood flow velocities before the administration were not different between the nicorandil group and the nitroglycerin group. The peak-systolic (79±15cm/s to 99±21cm/s, p<0.001; and 78±19cm/s to 85±19cm/s, p=0.004), end-diastolic (22±5cm/s to 28±8cm/s, p<0.001; and 24±6cm/s to 26±6cm/s, p=0.005) and mean (41±6cm/s to 49±9cm/s, p<0.001; and 43±9cm/s to 45±9cm/s, p=0.009) renal artery flow velocities increased significantly in either group. The nominal changes in the peak-systolic (20±10cm/s vs. 7±8cm/s, p<0.001), end-diastolic (5±4cm/s vs. 2±3cm/s, p=0.001), and mean (8±5cm/s vs. 2±2cm/s, p<0.001) renal artery blood flow velocities were significantly greater in the nicorandil group compared with the nitroglycerin group.



Intravenous nicorandil increased renal artery blood flow velocity in comparison with nitroglycerin. Nicorandil has a significant effect on renal hemodynamics.
Wakayama-Minami Radiology Clinic, Wakayama, Japan.
Yukiko
Y
Shimamoto
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. Electronic address: takakubo@wakayama-med.ac.jp.
Takashi
T
Kubo
Wakayama-Minami Radiology Clinic, Wakayama, Japan.
Kazumi
K
Tanabe
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Hiroki
H
Emori
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Yosuke
Y
Katayama
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Tsuyoshi
T
Nishiguchi
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Akira
A
Taruya
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Takeyoshi
T
Kameyama
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Makoto
M
Orii
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Takashi
T
Yamano
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Akio
A
Kuroi
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Tomoyuki
T
Yamaguchi
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Kazushi
K
Takemoto
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Yoshiki
Y
Matsuo
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Yasushi
Y
Ino
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Atsushi
A
Tanaka
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Hozumi
Wakayama-Minami Radiology Clinic, Wakayama, Japan.
Masaki
M
Terada
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Takashi
T
Akasaka
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020108:Nicorandil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020108:Nicorandil; D005996:Nitroglycerin
Adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel; Color Doppler ultrasound; Nicorandil; Renal artery