Tetrahydrobiopterin increases myocardial blood flow in healthy volunteers: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a regulatory cofactor for the activity of nitric oxide synthases. Vasodilating properties of BH4 have been reported in vitro and in vivo. The influence of BH4 on myocardial blood flow (MBF), however, is largely unknown. We therefore performed a double-blind, placebo-cont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Swiss medical weekly 2001-02, Vol.131 (7-8), p.91-94
Main Authors: Walter, R, Kaufmann, P A, Buck, A, Berthold, T, Wyss, C, von Schulthess, G K, Schaffner, A, Schoedon, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biopterins - administration & dosage
Biopterins - analogs & derivatives
Coronary Circulation - drug effects
Coronary Circulation - physiology
Double-Blind Method
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Reference Values
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tomography, Emission-Computed
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Summary:Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a regulatory cofactor for the activity of nitric oxide synthases. Vasodilating properties of BH4 have been reported in vitro and in vivo. The influence of BH4 on myocardial blood flow (MBF), however, is largely unknown. We therefore performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the effect of intravenous BH4 on MBF in healthy volunteers. Resting MBF was assessed in 15 subjects receiving either intravenous BH4 (10 mg/kg) or placebo using positron emission tomography (PET) and [13N]ammonia. From a mean baseline MBF of 0.91 +/- 0.09 ml/min/g, MBF increased to 1.18 +/- 0.10 ml/min/g after BH4 (n = 10; p = 0.0042). In contrast, in the group receiving placebo mean MBF remained unchanged (non-significant decrease from 0.97 +/- 0.19 to 0.84 +/- 0.11 ml/min/g; n = 5; p = 0.36). Systemic haemodynamics and ECGs remained unaffected in both groups. BH4 was very well tolerated. Systemically administered BH4 is safe and effectively increases resting MBF in healthy volunteers.
ISSN:1424-7860