Association of arterial stiffness with coronary flow reserve in revascularized coronary artery disease patients

AIM: To investigate the association of arterial wave reflection with coronary flow reserve(CFR) in coronary artery disease(CAD) patients after successful revascularization.METHODS: We assessed 70 patients with angiographically documented CAD who had undergone recent successful revascularization. We measured(1) reactive hyperemia index(RHI) using fingertip peripheral arterial tonometry(RH-PAT Endo-PAT);(2) carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity(PWVc-Complior);(3) augmentation index(AIx), the diastolic area(DAI%) and diastolic reflection area(DRA) of the central aortic pulse wave(Arteriograph);(4) CFR using Doppler echocardiography; and(5) blood levels of lipoprotein-phospholipase A2(LpPLA2).RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure parameter, lipidemic, diabetic and smoking status, we found that coronary flow reserve was independently related to AIx(b =-0.38, r = 0.009), DAI(b = 0.36, P = 0.014), DRA(b = 0.39, P = 0.005) and RT(b =-0.29,P = 0.026). Additionally, patients with CFR < 2.5 had higher PWVc(11.6 ± 2.3 vs 10.2 ± 1.4 m/s, P = 0.019), SBPc(139.1 ± 17.8 vs 125.2 ± 19.1 mm Hg, P = 0.026), AIx(38.2% ± 14.8% vs 29.4% ± 15.1%, P = 0.011) and lower RHI(1.26 ± 0.28 vs 1.50 ± 0.46, P = 0.012), DAI(44.3% ± 7.9% vs 53.9% ± 6.7%, P = 0.008), DRA(42.2 ± 9.6 vs 51.6 ± 11.4, P = 0.012) and Lp PLA2(268.1 ± 91.9 vs 199.5 ± 78.4 ng/m L, P = 0.002) compared with those with CFR ≥ 2.5. Elevated Lp PLA2 was related with reduced CFR(r =-0.33, P = 0.001), RHI(r =-0.37, P < 0.001) and DRA(r =-0.35, P = 0.001) as well as increased PWVc(r = 0.34, P = 0.012) and AIx(r = 0.34, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Abnormal arterial wave reflections are related with impaired coronary flow reserve despite successful revascularization in CAD patients. There is a common inflammatory link between impaired aortic wall properties, endothelial dysfunction and coronary flow impairment in CAD.