Impact of long-acting calcium channel blockers on the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease with and without chronic kidney disease: a comparison of three drugs.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) can prevent cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study looked retrospectively at the prognosis of CAD in hypertensive patients with CAD who had undergone a coronary angiograph, had been given a CCB (benidipine [n = 66], amlodipine [n = 45], or long-acting nifedipine [n = 31]) on hospital discharge and were then followed up for a mean +/- SD of 5.2 +/- 2.9 years. Systolic/diastolic blood pressure for all 142 patients decreased significantly from a mean +/- SD of 137 +/- 20/74 +/- 15 mmHg to 129 +/- 20/71 +/- 12 mmHg. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occurred in 15 patients. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was a significant risk factor for MACE (hazard ratio 2.35, 95% confidence intervals 1.45, 3.80). Benidipine was superior to nifedipine in preventing MACE in patients both with and without CKD. In conclusion, benidipine and amlodipine reduced the frequency of MACE in hypertensive patients with CAD, particularly in those with complicating CKD.

Ultrasound vasography evaluation of radial arterial grafts used for coronary arterial bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: For coronary bypass surgery, radial arteries are often used as bypass grafts. Some of these arteries however, have arteriosclerotic lesions. We attempted to evaluate the relationship between arteriosclerosis and vasodilation. METHODS: Prior to bypass surgery, 20 patients underwent ultrasound vasography to determine the condition of their radial and brachial arteries. Flow-mediated dilation, which is the same as endothelium-dependent vasodilation, was measured in the brachial artery of the nondominant arm by reactive hyperemia after 5-minute forearm ischemia. Vasodilation after application of a sublingual glyceryl trinitrate spray was also measured. RESULTS: During surgery, 4 of 20 radial arteries demonstrated calcification, and 3 of the 4 could be used by removing the calcified part. However, the other artery, which had extensive calcification that could not be detected by ultrasound vasography, was discarded. The amount of vasodilation seen after the administration of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate had no correlation with calcified grafts. Calcified radial arteries demonstrated significantly poor brachial artery vasodilation by an endothelial-dependent vasodilation test. CONCLUSIONS: Calcification in radial arteries can thus only be evaluated by flow-mediated dilation.

Acute inferior myocardial infarction and coronary spasm in a patient with an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of valsalva.

A 56-year-old Japanese woman with an acute inferior myocardial infarction was admitted to hospital. Emergency coronary angiography revealed an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva, but there was no stenosis or thrombus in either the right or left coronary artery. Coronary spasm was provoked at the site of the proximal portion of the anomalous coronary artery, which was located between the aorta and pulmonary trunk. This was thought to be the cause of the myocardial infarction.

Plasma endothelin-1 elevation associated with alcohol-induced variant angina.

Vasospastic angina as a result of alcohol ingestion has been reported, but the mechanism of alcohol-induced coronary artery spasm is presently unknown. This report presents 2 cases of alcohol-induced variant angina (VA) with elevated levels of plasma endothelin-1 after alcohol ingestion. In case 1, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 3.15 pg/ml before drinking (normal <2.30 pg/ml) and increased to 4.09 pg/ml when measured 5 h after alcohol ingestion. After 2 months of abstinence, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 2.88 pg/ml and 6 months after abstinence, it decreased to 2.03 pg/ml (normal range). In case 2, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 2.44 pg/ml before drinking and increased to 4.36 pg/ml when measured 5 h after alcohol ingestion. After 2 months of abstinence, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 3.04 pg/ml and 6 months after abstinence, it decreased to 2.09 pg/ml (normal range). These 2 cases suggest that a relationship may exist between alcohol-induced VA and elevation in the plasma endothelin-1 concentration after alcohol ingestion.

Effects of troglitazone on frequency of coronary vasospastic-induced angina pectoris in patients with diabetes mellitus.

This study investigates the effects of troglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, on the clinical manifestation of coronary vasospastic angina pectoris in patients with diabetes mellitus. Troglitazone reduces frequency of angina pectoris and improves endothelial function.

The correlation between coronary stenosis index and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery.

We examined the relationship between flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Using high-resolution ultrasonography, we measured FMD and nitroglycerin-induced brachial artery dilation. We studied 121 patients (77 men, 44 women; mean age 64+/-11 years, range 25-79 years) who underwent coronary arteriography. The extent and severity of CAD were assessed by the coronary stenosis index (CSI). The adjusted FMD correlated inversely with CSI (rs=-0.63, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the adjusted FMD was an independent predictor of CSI. The adjusted FMD was 10.2+/-4.8% in patients without CAD (n=32), 7.7+/-6.0% in patients with single-vessel disease (n=31), 5.2+/-5.5% in patients with double-vessel disease (n=29), and 2.0+/-3.9% in patients with triple-vessel disease (n=29). The adjusted FMD was significantly lower in the double- (p<0.01) and triple-vessel (p<0.0001) disease groups than in patients without CAD. The adjusted FMD was significantly lower in the triple-vessel disease group than in the single-vessel disease group (p<0.001). Based on our results, as coronary atherosclerosis becomes more severe, the adjusted brachial artery FMD becomes more severely impaired.

Clinical features of prognosis of Japanese patients with anomalous origin of the coronary artery.

Anomalous origin of the coronary artery can lead to angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction or even sudden death in the absence of atherosclerosis. However, in Japan, this anomaly is usually treated medically rather than surgically. To clarify the clinical features of anomalous origin of the coronary artery in Japanese and the prognosis of such patients who are treated medically, we reviewed 56 patients with anomalous origin of the coronary arteries. The mean age of these patients was 55.9 +/- 11.5 years. Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva was seen most frequently (78.6%). In contrast, we found no cases of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva traversing between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. A history of syncope (14.3%) and aorta regurgitation (21.4%) was frequent and serious complications during exercise stress testing occurred in 5 patients. These patients were treated medically, such as by limiting exercise or by the oral administration of medicine. During the follow up period (mean 5.6 +/- 4.2 years), death directly related to anomalous origin of the coronary artery was not found despite the lack of surgical treatment. Our results suggest that the prognosis of these middle-aged-to-elderly patients without atherosclerosis is relatively good, despite the lack of surgical treatment.

Ultrafast computed tomography in the diagnosis and evaluation of anomalous origin of the right coronary artery.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery may lead to myocardial ischemia despite the absence of atherosclerosis. We report the case of a 52-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with exertional chest discomfort and palpitations. An anomalous origin of the right coronary artery was demonstrated by coronary angiography. There was no evidence of atherosclerosis in either the left or right coronary arteries. However, detailed information regarding the proximal portion of the anomalous artery was not acquired by coronary angiography. In this patient, ultrafast computed tomography (UFT) revealed an acute angle takeoff of the anomalous right coronary artery from the aorta. Furthermore, the proximal portion of the right coronary artery traversed the aorta and pulmonary trunk. This case illustrates that UFT is useful for detecting an anomalous origin of the coronary arteries and evaluating the mechanism of myocardial ischemia in patients with anomalous origin of the coronary arteries.

Effects of short-term aminophylline administration on cardiac functional reserve in patients with syndrome X.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effect of adenosine receptor blockade by aminophylline on cardiac functional reserve in patients with syndrome X. BACKGROUND: Aminophylline may have a potentially antiischemic effect through the inhibition of adenosine and, thus, the coronary steal phenomenon in patients with syndrome X. METHODS: A single-blind, placebo-controlled study of an intravenous infusion of aminophylline (6 mg/kg body weight over 15 min) or placebo (20 ml of saline solution over 15 min) was performed during continuous radionuclide monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction in 12 patients performing supine bicycle ergometric exercise. RESULTS: Aminophylline increased exercise time (aminophylline 400 s vs. placebo 355 s, p < 0.01), decreased degree of ST segment depression (aminophylline 1.6 mm vs. placebo 2.4 mm, p < 0.01) and either abolished (seven patients) or diminished (five patients) chest pain during exercise. Aminophylline also increased left ventricular ejection fraction at rest (aminophylline 66.5% vs. placebo 62.3%, p < 0.05) but did not improve its deterioration at peak exercise (aminophylline 60.1% vs. placebo 56.6%, p = NS) or shorten the abnormally prolonged interval between the end of exercise and the overshoot (aminophylline 115 s vs. placebo 130 s, p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Aminophylline infusion increases ischemic threshold and prolongs exercise duration in patients with syndrome X. It is hypothesized that aminophylline acts by inhibiting the coronary steal phenomenon through adenosine receptor blockade. It does not improve the deterioration in left ventricular function at peak exercise or the delayed response in ejection fraction in the recovery period, presumably because the beneficial effects of aminophylline that result from the redistribution of coronary blood flow are limited.

Detection of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery by transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery can lead to angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction or even sudden death, especially during exercise. We present a patient in whom the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the posterior aortic (non-coronary) sinus produced ischemic chest pain. The anomaly was identified by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as by coronary angiography. TEE and MRI are useful for detecting anomalies of the coronary artery both clearly and noninvasively and for evaluating the mechanism of ischemia.