title: Effects of nitroglycerine on coronary flow velocity before and during adenosine provocation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transthoracic echocardiography-assessed coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) evaluates coronary microvascular arterial function. Coronary flow velocity measurements at baseline and during hyperemia are used to calculate CFVR. Adenosine infusion induces hyperemia but it is not known if it causes a maximal response. We hypothesized that pre-treatment with nitroglycerine before adenosine provocation enhances hyperemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three healthy study subjects (mean age 27.5 ± 5.5, 35% women) underwent CFVR measurements before and after pretreatment with sublingual nitroglycerine (0.5 mg). Hyperemia was induced by adenosine infusion (140 μg/kg/min). In addition, the effect of nitroglycerin on left main coronary artery diameter was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment with nitroglycerine increased median CFVR from 3.6 (range 2.8-4.3) to 5.0 (4.1-6.0), p = 0.002. The increase was caused by a marked reduction in baseline coronary flow velocity 17 (15-24) vs 27 (19-31) cm/s, p < 0.0001) while hyperemic velocity remained unchanged (90 (68-116) vs 93 (75-105) cm/s, p = 0.48). Nitroglycerin significantly dilated the left main coronary artery (from median 3.1 (2.7-3.6) mm to 3.8 (3.1-4.3) mm, p = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with nitroglycerine dilates coronary arteries and increases coronary flow velocity reserve indicating that adenosine alone causes a submaximal hyperemia.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden. ann.wittfeldt@gu.se.|Department of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden. ann.wittfeldt@gu.se.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2863-6794
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wittfeldt
authors.affiliation: Dept of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.affiliation: Dept of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden.|AstraZeneca R & D, 43150, Molndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gan
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000241:Adenosine
keywords: Coronary flow velocity reserve; Nitroglycerine; Non-invasive; Ultrasound