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Ultrasound Based Assessment of Coronary Artery Flow and Coronary Flow Reserve Using the Pressure Overload Model in Mice
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Ultrasound Based Assessment of Coronary Artery Flow and Coronary Flow Reserve Using the Pressure Overload Model in Mice

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Coronary microangiopathy and cardiac hypertrophy

M Vogt1, W Motz, B Schwartzkopff

  • 1Medizinische Klinik and Poliklinik B, University of Düsseldorf, F.R.G.

European Heart Journal
|April 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Hypertensive patients often have impaired coronary vasodilator reserve, not linked to left ventricular hypertrophy. This reduced coronary reserve in hypertension stems from primary microvascular damage, independent of heart muscle thickening.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Coronary vasodilator reserve is frequently impaired in hypertensive patients, even without coronary heart disease.
  • The cause of reduced coronary reserve in hypertension—whether left ventricular hypertrophy or primary vascular changes—remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether impaired coronary reserve in hypertensive patients is due to left ventricular hypertrophy or primary vascular alterations.
  • To quantify coronary reserve and its relationship with left ventricular muscle mass and diastolic wall stress in hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Coronary reserve was assessed in 54 hypertensive patients with angina and normal coronary arteries, and 12 normotensive controls.
  • Coronary blood flow was measured using the argon gas chromatographic method.
  • Coronary resistance was determined before and after dipyridamole administration; left ventricular muscle mass was assessed via ventriculography.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive patients exhibited a 124% increase in minimal coronary resistance and a 38% reduction in coronary reserve compared to controls.
  • No significant correlation was found between coronary reserve, minimal coronary resistance, and left ventricular muscle mass or diastolic wall stress.
  • Myocardial oxygen consumption and resting coronary flow did not differ between hypertensive and normotensive groups.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced coronary vasodilator reserve in hypertensive patients is not directly related to the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy.
  • The findings suggest that primary microvascular lesions, independent of left ventricular hypertrophy, are responsible for impaired coronary reserve in hypertension.

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