Endothelial modulation of coronary vasomotor tone in humans. Effects of atherosclerosis and risk factors for coronary artery disease
Zeiher, A.M.
Arzneimittel-Forschung 44(3a): 439-442
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4172 PMID: 8185719 Document Number: 428354
Tests in patients with atherosclerosis or running the risk to get coronary heart diseases have been reported, the objective of which was to detect the importance the physiologic and pathophysiologic regulatory mechanisms of coronary blood flow have in early diagnosis. The reaction of coronary vessels after the infusion of acetylcholine compared to this they showed after the infusion of papaverine was tested, this is to say the responsiveness of coronary vessels to pharmacologic influences caused by the endothelium and aiming directly at the striatal muscles. Both, quantitative coronary angiography and intracoronary sonography served as measuring instruments. The results revealed that progressive endothelial dysfunction in the coronary vessels of risk patients can be detected by the help of pharmacologically differentiated active substances. In patients with increased cholesterin levels, the function of the endothelium is impaired, although a constriction of the lumen has not been observed. Some gradually more distinct dysfunctions have been found in patients with structural symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis and above all in patients with angiographically provable lumen alterations.