Coronary flow reserve is supranormal in endurance athletes: an adenosine transthoracic echocardiographic study

• Published in: British heart journal 2000-10, Vol.84 (4), p.383-389
• Main Authors: Hildick-Smith, D J R, Johnson, P J, Wisbey, C R, Winter, E M, Shapiro, L M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine; adenosine transthoracic echocardiography; Adult; athlete; Athletes; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity; Cardiovascular Medicine; Cardiovascular system; Case-Control Studies; Coronary Circulation - physiology; coronary flow reserve; Coronary vessels; Coronary Vessels - anatomy & histology; Echocardiography; Endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Feasibility studies; Flow velocity; Hibernation; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physiology; Sports - physiology; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Vasodilator Agents; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 0007-0769; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/heart.84.4.383

OBJECTIVE To compare coronary flow reserve in endurance athletes and healthy sedentary controls, using adenosine transthoracic echocardiography. METHODS 29 male endurance athletes (mean (SD) age 27.3 (6.6) years, body mass index (BMI) 22.1 (1.9) kg/m2) and 23 male controls (age 27.2 (6.1) years, BMI 23.9 (2.6) kg/m2) with no coronary risk factors underwent transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) diameter and flow, both at rest and during intravenous adenosine infusion (140 μg/kg/min). RESULTS Distal LAD diameter and flow were adequately assessed in 19 controls (83%) and 26 athletes (90%). Distal LAD diameter in athletes (2.04 (0.25) mm) was not significantly greater than in sedentary controls (1.97 (0.27) mm). Per cent increase in LAD diameter following 400 μg sublingual nitrate was greater in the athletes than in the controls, at 14.1 (7.2)%v 8.8 (5.7)% (p