ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular inflammation may be associated with variant angina (VA). However, their exact roles remain to be clarified. The aim of the presents study is to investigate whether the level of inflammation markers and the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) are related to VA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 46 patients (VA group: 53.9+/-12.0 years, 20 males) with positive spasm provocation tests and they were without significant coronary stenosis, and 14 patients (control group: 46.6+/-13.5 years, 7 males) with negative spasm provocation tests and they were without significant coronary stenosis. The clinical characteristics and inflammatory markers, including the high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level, the monocyte count and the von Willebrand factor (vWF) level, and the FMD were compared between the two groups. The FMD and inflammatory markers were measured in the morning before performing the ergonovine provocation coronary angiogram. RESULTS: The level of vWF was significantly higher in the VA group than in the control group (166.5+/-41.9% vs. 118.0+/-65.3%, respectively, p=0.029). The FMD was significantly decreased in the VA group compared with the control group (9.2+/-4.3% vs. 12.4+/-4.2%, respectively, p=0.021). Nitrate-mediated dilation did not differ between the two groups. The levels of the monocyte count, hs-CRP and homocysteine were higher in the VA group than in the control group (554.7+/-261.0/mm3 vs. 440.7+/-136.0/mm3, respectively, p=0.039; 0.3+/-0.4 mg/dL vs. 0.1+/-0.1 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.029; 7.54+/-4.0micronmol/L vs. 5.92+/-1.6micronmol/L, respectively, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that increased inflammatory markers and endothelial dysfunction may be associated with variant angina.