Complex stenosis morphology and vasomotor responses to inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis

• Published in: British heart journal 2000-11, Vol.84 (5), p.529-534
• Main Authors: Tousoulis, D, Tentolouris, C, Crake, T, Goumas, G, Stefanadis, C, Toutouzas, P, Davies, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Angina Pectoris - diagnostic imaging; Angina Pectoris - pathology; Angina Pectoris - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary Angiography; coronary artery disease; Coronary heart disease; endothelium; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Heart; Heart attacks; Humans; Interventional Cardiology Surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide - physiology; Nitroglycerin - pharmacology; omega-N-Methylarginine; Rodents; stenosis morphology; Studies; Symmetry; Vasoconstriction - drug effects; Vasoconstriction - physiology; Vasodilator Agents - pharmacology; Vasomotor System - drug effects; Vasomotor System - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 0007-0769; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/heart.84.5.529

OBJECTIVE To assess the relation between coronary vasomotor effects of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (LNMMA) administration and coronary stenosis morphology, length, and severity in patients with stable angina. DESIGN In 28 patients (24 male, four female) with coronary artery disease and chronic stable angina, intracoronary normal saline and 4 μmol/min LNMMA were infused for four minutes each, followed by an intracoronary bolus of 250 μg glyceryl trinitrate. Coronary stenoses were classified as concentric (smooth), eccentric (smooth), or complicated (irregular). The diameters of these stenoses and their adjacent reference proximal segments were measured by quantitative angiography. RESULTS During LNMMA infusion a significantly larger proportion of complicated stenoses than concentric and eccentric stenoses constricted by ⩾ 5% (p