Elevated endothelin concentrations are associated with reduced coronary vasomotor responses in patients with chest

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000
07:46

Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000

Published on: October 15, 2010

I D Cox1, H E Bøtker, J P Bagger

  • 1Department of Cardiological Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|August 10, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Elevated endothelin (ET) levels are linked to reduced coronary blood flow responses in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries, particularly in women. This suggests ET plays a role in coronary vasomotor dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Cardiology

Background:

  • Patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms (CPNA) exhibit elevated plasma endothelin (ET) concentrations compared to healthy individuals.
  • Endothelin's role in coronary vasomotor regulation in CPNA patients requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between arterial and coronary sinus endothelin (ET) levels and coronary vasomotor responses.
  • To assess these responses during rapid atrial pacing in patients diagnosed with CPNA.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 19 CPNA patients (14 women), measuring plasma ET concentrations via radioimmunoassay.
  • Determined coronary vascular resistance changes (%d.CVR) during rapid atrial pacing using thermodilution catheterization.
  • Analyzed the association between ET levels, gender, and %d.CVR using regression analyses.

Main Results:

  • No significant gender difference in ET concentrations was observed.
  • A trend indicated lower %d.CVR in women compared to men (p=0.07).
  • Both female gender and higher baseline arterial ET concentrations independently predicted reduced %d.CVR during pacing (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated endothelin activity is associated with impaired coronary blood flow responses during rapid atrial pacing in CPNA patients.
  • Gender and ET levels are significant predictors of coronary vasomotor dysfunction in this patient group.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

Intracoronary Acetylcholine Provocation Testing for Assessment of Coronary Vasomotor Disorders06:39

Intracoronary Acetylcholine Provocation Testing for Assessment of Coronary Vasomotor Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers01:16

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates,  such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists01:18

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Of...
Angina I: Introduction01:30

Angina I: Introduction

Definition and Symptoms: Angina (angina pectoris) is chest pain or discomfort caused by myocardial ischemia, which occurs when the heart muscle receives insufficient oxygen-rich blood. It typically manifests as pressing, squeezing, or crushing sensations in the chest and may radiate to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.Primary Cause: In a healthy state, the coronary arteries can dilate (widen) to increase blood flow and meet the increased oxygen demand during physical activity or...
Angina II: Classification01:27

Angina II: Classification

Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is a chest pain resulting from diminished blood flow to the heart muscle and is often a symptom of coronary artery disease. Angina presents several variants with distinctive attributes, etiologies, and therapeutic approaches. The main types of angina include stable, unstable, variant (Prinzmetal's), microvascular, intractable, and silent ischemia.Stable angina is caused by atherosclerosis, which leads to the formation of plaques that narrow the coronary...
Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment01:29

Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment

Angina manifests as chest pain, tightness, or squeezing discomfort typically located behind the breastbone. It can radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders, and inner aspects of the upper arms, most commonly the left arm. Patients may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, profuse sweating, dizziness, indigestion, heartburn, palpitations, anxiety, and vomiting as accompanying symptoms. This pain often lasts a few minutes and is triggered by physical exertion, emotional stress, heavy meals, or cold...
Angina V: Nursing Management01:20

Angina V: Nursing Management

Angina, a symptom of myocardial ischemia, requires a structured nursing management approach to ensure effective care and prevent complications like myocardial infarction. Comprehensive nursing care involves assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing interventions, and evaluating outcomes, all tailored to the individual patient's needs.Patient AssessmentNursing assessment begins with a detailed subjective evaluation of symptoms, which typically include chest pain or pressure radiating to the...