The coronary hyperemic reaction in scleroderma
Kahan, A.; Nitenberg, A.; Foult, J.M.; Menkès, C.J.; Amor, B.
Revue du Rhumatisme et des Maladies Osteo-Articulaires 53(4): 217-221
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-2659 PMID: 3738379 Document Number: 276540
Functional, organic and vascular anomalies could play an important role in systemic scleroderma. We have studied the coronary hyperemic reaction in subjects with primitive sclerodermatous cardiomyopathy, in order to specify the vascular anomalies. The coronary hyperemic reaction consists of a transient rise in coronary flow after selective injection of a contrast agent into the left coronary artery. In sclerodermatous subjects this coronary hyperemic reaction is significantly smaller than in control subjects. This limitation of the hyperemic reaction reflects a decrease in the ability of small arteries or coronary arterioles to dilate in sclerodermatous subjects. This anomaly could play an important role in primitive sclerodermatous cardiomyopathy.