Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide concentrations and their response to exercise in patients with slow coronary flow

In this study, the endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in slow coronary flow (SCF) patients were assessed before and at the peak of the exercise stress test and compared with the values from healthy controls. The study population was 25 patients who underwent coronary angiography and were diagnosed as SCF (I I females (44%), aged 56.7 +/- 9.8 years), and 20 normal subjects (9 females (45%), aged 54.3 +/- 9.2 years). Mean TIMI frame count in the patients was 54.1 +/- 13.4. Blood samples were drawn at rest and immediately at the end of exercise testing. The baseline ET-1 concentrations of the control subjects were lower than those of the patients (7.0 +/- 4.5 pg/ml vs 11.1 +/- 5.9 pg/ml p<0.0001) and this difference increased after exercise (6.2 +/- 4.3 pg/ml vs 20.1 +/- 10.4 pg/ml, p<0.0001). Post-exercise ET-1 concentrations were significantly higher than baseline in patients with SCF (p<0.0001) and a reduction in the ET-1 concentrations was observed in control subjects (p<0.05). Baseline NO concentrations of the patients were lower than those of the control subjects (27 +/- 5.1 mumol/L vs 31.2 +/- 4.9 mumol/L, p=0.0001). Although the NO concentrations in both groups were significantly increased after exercise (29.4 +/- 5.9 mumol/L vs 33.3 +/- 5.6 mumol/L, p<0.05 for both), the difference was not significant. A significant negative correlation among post-exercise ET-1 concentrations and maximal heart rate, exercise duration and exercise rate-pressure product, and a significant positive correlation among post-exercise NO concentrations and maximal heart rate and exercise duration were observed in both groups. The results of this study show that endothelial function (assessed by ET-I and NO concentrations) and its response to exercise were abnormal in SCF patients compared with healthy subjects, and this may play some pathophysiologic role.