Reduced systemic microvascular density and reactivity in individuals with early onset coronary artery disease

• Published in: Microvascular research 2015-01, Vol.97, p.105-108
• Main Authors: Tibirica, Eduardo, Souza, Elaine G., De Lorenzo, Andrea, Oliveira, Glaucia M.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age of Onset; Capillary rarefaction; Cardiovascular risk; Case-Control Studies; Coronary artery disease; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Early Diagnosis; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Hyperemia - physiopathology; Male; Microcirculation; Microscopic Angioscopy - methods; Microscopy, Video; Microvascular endothelial dysfunction; Microvessels - pathology; Microvessels - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Skin - blood supply; Skin microvascular reactivity
• ISSN: 0026-2862; 1095-9319
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2014.10.004

This study sought to test whether patients with early-onset coronary artery disease (EOCAD, n=30) showed systemic microvascular rarefaction and endothelial dysfunction in comparison to age- and sex-matched healthy controls (CTL, n=30), as evaluated by skin video-capillaroscopy. Functional capillary density (FCD) was defined as the number of spontaneously perfused capillaries per square millimeter of skin area and assessed by high-resolution intra-vital color microscopy in the dorsum of the middle phalanx. Capillary recruitment (capillary reserve) was evaluated using post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) after arm ischemia for 3min. The mean capillary density at rest was significantly reduced in patients with EOCAD compared to controls (CTL 95±20 and EOCAD 80±18capillaries/mm2, P=0.0040). During PORH, capillary density was also markedly reduced in EOCAD patients (CTL 96±18 and EOCAD 71±20capillaries/mm2, P