Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
08:17

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery

Published on: February 20, 2017

Relation between heavy metals and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease

Wojciech Kosmala1, Wiktor Kuliczkowski, Beata Jolda-Mydlowska

  • 1Cardiology Department of Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland, 50-367 Wroclaw, ul. Pasteura 4.

Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods
|December 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Cadmium, even at low levels, is linked to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in coronary artery disease patients. This finding suggests cadmium may worsen myocardial ischemia effects.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is an early sign of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Myocardial ischemia is a primary cause, but other factors are involved.
  • The role of heavy metals in diastolic dysfunction is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, and selenium levels and left ventricular diastolic function in CAD patients.
  • To assess if heavy metal concentrations correlate with diastolic dysfunction indices.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 33 CAD patients and 18 controls, excluding occupational heavy metal exposure.
  • Measured blood cadmium and lead, serum zinc, selenium, and copper using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
  • Assessed left ventricular diastolic function using echo-Doppler and color M-mode.

Main Results:

  • All heavy metal concentrations were within standard ranges and did not differ between groups.
  • Cadmium showed a significant correlation with diastolic function parameters in CAD patients (p < 0.05).
  • No significant correlations were found in the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Cadmium, even below threshold limit values, may contribute to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in CAD.
  • Cadmium could potentiate the effects of myocardial ischemia in coronary artery disease.

Related Concept Videos

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction01:20

Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction

Mitral regurgitation is characterized by the backward circulation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole, a phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. This abnormal flow occurs primarily due to the dysfunction of the mitral valve or its supporting structures, which include the mitral leaflets, chordae tendineae, annulus, and papillary muscles.Etiology and Mechanisms:Primary Mitral Regurgitation: This type arises from...
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care01:29

Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization01:24

Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization

Left heart catheterization is an invasive diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the function and structure of the left side of the heart. It is generally performed to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions such as valve abnormalities, coronary artery disease, and congenital heart defects.Diagnostic and therapeutic purposesLeft heart catheterization serves various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including:Assessing coronary artery bypass grafts.Evaluating coronary artery disease in...