Endothelium-Dependent and -Independent Vasodilation in Young Males with Previous Myocardial Infarction

Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2003; 6 (1-4): 73-76

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Keywords: Endothel,  Kardiologie,  Mann,  Myokardinfarkt,  Vasodilatation,  cardiology,  endothelium,  Male,  myocardial infarction,  Vasodilatation

Flow-mediated vasodilation - a non-invasively measurable index of endothelial function - is a good predictor of cardiovascular risk. This study was undertaken to analyse the correlation between flow-mediated vasodilation and the severity of coronary artery disease in males less than 40 years of age and with myocardial infarction in their history. Coronary angiography demonstrated single-vessel disease in 16 patients (Group A) and multi-vessel disease in 12 (Group B). The control group comprised 14 healthy young males (Group C). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation produced by reactive hyperaemia, as well as nitroglycerine-induced, endothelium-independent vasodilation was appraised on the brachial artery, using a high-resolution duplex ultrasound device (ACUSON 128XP/10). Variations in vessel size recorded as prescribed by the protocol developed by Celermayer were expressed as percentage change compared to baseline. Compared to controls, endothelium-dependent vasodilation was attenuated in patients with previous myocardial infarction (p < 0.01). The same applies to multi-vessel disease, in comparison to single-vessel disease. There was no difference between controls and postinfarction patients as regards nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is diminished in young males with previous myocardial infarction, and the magnitude of this reduction is related to the severity of coronary artery disease.