Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Surgical Placement of Catheters for Long-term Cardiovascular Exercise Testing in Swine
Published on: February 9, 2016
How to study the effects of inflammation on coronary vasomotion and their clinical relevance
Achille Gaspardone1, Fabrizio Tomai
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. a_gaspardone@yahoo.com
Insights
Systemic inflammation in acute coronary syndromes is linked to increased coronary vasoreactivity, potentially worsening myocardial ischemia. Future anti-inflammatory drugs may improve outcomes for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Inflammation Biology
Background:
- Systemic inflammation is observed in acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
- This inflammation is associated with enhanced vasoreactivity at the culprit coronary lesion site.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the pathogenetic role of enhanced coronary vasoreactivity in ACS.
- To assess the clinical relevance of the association between systemic inflammation and epicardial vessel vasomotion.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of systemic inflammation markers.
- Assessment of epicardial vessel vasomotion in humans.
Main Results:
- A correlation exists between systemic inflammation and enhanced coronary vasoreactivity in ACS patients.
- Enhanced vasoreactivity at the culprit lesion may limit coronary blood flow, contributing to ischemia.
Conclusions:
- The association between inflammation and vasoreactivity in ACS warrants further clinical investigation.
- Targeting inflammatory molecules like C-reactive protein and endothelin-1 may offer new therapeutic strategies for ACS.
Abstract:
In patients with acute coronary syndromes systemic inflammation is associated with an enhanced vasoreactivity of the culprit coronary lesion. In the complex scenario of the mechanisms responsible for myocardial ischemia, the increased coronary vasoreactivity at the site of the culprit lesion may represent an important pathogenetic factor by limiting coronary blood flow. Systemic inflammation and epicardial vessel vasomotion can be easily measured in humans although, at present, the clinical relevance of such association has not been assessed in clinical trial. In the future, the development of drugs capable of blocking inflammatory molecules, in particular C-reactive protein and endothelin-1, will provide new tools to establish whether inflammation directly contributes to the pathogenesis of the enhanced coronary vasoreactivity and, more importantly, whether these drugs will be capable of positively affecting the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndromes.
Related Concept Videos
Myocarditis I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects

