title: Saline-Induced Coronary Hyperemia: Mechanisms and Effects on Left Ventricular Function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During thermodilution-based assessment of volumetric coronary blood flow, we observed that intracoronary infusion of saline increased coronary flow. This study aims to quantify the extent and unravel the mechanisms of saline-induced hyperemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients were studied; in 24 patients, intracoronary Doppler flow velocity measurements were performed at rest, after intracoronary adenosine, and during increasing infusion rates of saline at room temperature through a dedicated catheter with 4 lateral side holes. In 9 patients, global longitudinal strain and flow propagation velocity were assessed by transthoracic echocardiography during a prolonged intracoronary saline infusion. Taking adenosine-induced maximal hyperemia as reference, intracoronary infusion of saline at rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL/min induced 6%, 46%, 111%, and 112% of maximal hyperemia, respectively. There was a close agreement of maximal saline- and adenosine-induced coronary flow reserve (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.922;P<0.001). The same infusion rates given through 1 end hole (n=6) or in the contralateral artery (n=6) did not induce a significant increase in flow velocity. Intracoronary saline given on top of an intravenous infusion of adenosine did not further increase flow. Intracoronary saline infusion did not affect blood pressure, systolic, or diastolic left ventricular function. Heart rate decreased by 15% during saline infusion (P=0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracoronary infusion of saline at room temperature through a dedicated catheter for coronary thermodilution induces steady-state maximal hyperemia at a flow rate ≥15 mL/min. These findings open new possibilities to measure maximal absolute coronary blood flow and minimal microcirculatory resistance.
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.). bernard.de.bruyne@olvz-aalst.be.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Bruyne
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adjedj
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xaplanteris
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Yujing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penicka
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Floré
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellicano
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Duncker
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium (B.D.B., J.A., P.X., A.F., Y.M., M. Penicka, V.F., M. Pellicano, E.B.); Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy (M. Pellicano, E.B.); University Heart Centre Graz, Austria (G.T.); Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D.); Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands (N.H.J.P.).
authors.forename: Nico H J
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Pijls
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013815:Thermodilution / Q000379:methods; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: absolute myocardial flow heart rate; adenosine; coronary microvasculature; hyperemia; microvascular resistance