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Disturbed endothelial function of the internal thoracic artery in patients with coronary artery disease

Roger Marx1, Thomas Jax, Christiana Mira Schannwell

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, General Hospital, Gotenstr. 1, 42653, Solingen, Germany. RogerMarx@t-online.de

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
|June 17, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Patients with coronary artery disease exhibit reduced internal thoracic artery diastolic velocity and flow reserve during stress. This suggests impaired vasomotion, potentially an early sign of atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Surgical Research

Background:

  • The internal thoracic artery (ITA) is a preferred arterial graft for myocardial revascularization.
  • Functional differences in the ITA between patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD) remain unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate functional differences in the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) between patients with and without CAD.
  • To assess ITA hemodynamics at rest and during handgrip exercise.

Main Methods:

  • Duplex ultrasound system used to evaluate the LITA in 28 patients (15 with CAD, 13 without).
  • Measurements performed at rest and during handgrip exercise to assess flow velocities and reserve.

Main Results:

  • At rest, significant differences observed in mean and peak diastolic velocities between groups.
  • During handgrip, patients with CAD showed lower peak and mean diastolic velocities.
  • Flow reserve was significantly decreased in patients with CAD compared to controls (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Patients with CAD demonstrate higher peripheral resistance and lower diastolic LITA velocity under stress.
  • These findings indicate disturbed vasomotion in the ITA of patients with CAD.
  • Impaired ITA vasomotion may serve as an early indicator of atherosclerosis.
Abstract

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