Continuous therapy with transdermal nitroglycerin does not affect biomarkers of vascular inflammation and injury in healthy volunteers

• Published in: Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology 2009-06, Vol.87 (6), p.455-459
• Main Authors: Thomas, George R, DiFabio, Jonathan M, Gori, Tommaso, Jenkins, David J.A, Parker, John D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Adolescent; Adult; Arginine - analogs & derivatives; Arginine - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Blood circulation disorders; Cell Adhesion Molecules - blood; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; endothelial function; Endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - immunology; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; fonction endothéliale; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; Humans; inflammation; Interleukin-6 - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Male; Medical disorders; Nitroglycerin; Nitroglycerin - administration & dosage; Nitroglycerin - adverse effects; nitroglycérine; P-Selectin - blood; Pharmacology; Studies; Time Factors; Transdermal medication; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Vasculitis - blood; Vasculitis - chemically induced; Vasculitis - immunology; Vasodilator Agents - administration & dosage; Vasodilator Agents - adverse effects; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0008-4212; 1205-7541
• DOI: 10.1139/Y09-030

Continuous exposure to nitroglycerin (GTN) results in development of tolerance and is associated with increased free radical production and abnormal endothelial function. Elevated plasma biomarkers of inflammation have been shown to be associated with endothelial dysfunction in most cardiovascular conditions. It remains unclear whether exposure to GTN is also associated with increased biomarkers of endothelial and vascular injury or vascular inflammation. In an investigator-blind study, a total of 28 healthy volunteers were randomized to continuous therapy with GTN (0.6 mg/h 24 h/day for 7 days) or no therapy. Venous blood was collected on day 0 and day 7. Plasma levels of markers such as asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA), human soluble P-selectin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor- α, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and oxidized low-density lipoproteins were measured. The levels of blood markers on day 0 were similar in the control and GTN-treated groups. After 7 days of GTN exposure, there were no significant changes in the different markers of vascular inflammation and injury either in the GTN or control group (all p > 0.5). The present study documents that prolonged continuous therapy with transdermal GTN therapy is not associated with changes in markers of vascular inflammation and injury.