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Increased coronary sinus blood temperature: correlation with systemic inflammation

K Toutouzas1, M Drakopoulou, V Markou

  • 1First Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Greece. ktoutouz@otenet.gr

European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|April 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Systemic inflammation correlates with increased coronary sinus blood temperature in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This suggests inflammation may drive myocardial heat production in CAD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Thermodynamics

Background:

  • Patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) experiencing acute coronary syndromes (ACS) exhibit elevated coronary sinus (CS) blood temperature compared to the right atrium (RA).
  • Investigating the link between systemic inflammatory markers and CS temperature is crucial for understanding CAD pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the correlation between systemic inflammatory indexes and coronary sinus (CS) blood temperature.
  • To compare CS temperature differences between patients with single-vessel versus multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD).

Main Methods:

  • Consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for chest pain were enrolled.
  • Coronary sinus (CS) and right atrium (RA) blood temperatures were measured using a thermography catheter.
  • C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and DeltaTau (CS temperature - RA temperature) were calculated.

Main Results:

  • DeltaTau was significantly higher in patients with ACS and stable angina (SA) compared to controls.
  • While the ACS group showed a trend towards higher DeltaTau than the SA group, this difference was not statistically significant.
  • Coronary sinus (CS) blood temperature (DeltaTau) showed a significant positive correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (R = 0.35b, P < 0.01).
  • No significant difference in DeltaTau was observed between patients with single-vessel and multivessel disease.

Conclusions:

  • Systemic inflammation is strongly correlated with elevated coronary sinus (CS) blood temperature.
  • The findings suggest that inflammatory processes may be responsible for increased heat production within the myocardium in CAD patients.
Abstract

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