Effects of beta-adrenergic blockade on nitroglycerin-induced augmentation of regional coronary blood flow in patients

Although beta-adrenergic blockade may increase coronary vascular resistance in some patients with severe ischemic heart disease, the effects of beta blockade on the nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced augmentation of coronary blood flow have not been elucidated. Therefore, systemic hemodynamic and anterior left ventricular regional coronary blood-flow (thermodilution) data were measured during administration of NTG into the left coronary artery, before and 10 min after intravenous propranolol (0.1 mg/kg) in 22 patients. Six patients (Group 1) had normal left coronary arteries and nine (Group 2) had severe coronary artery disease with at least greater than 70% narrowing of the left anterior descending artery. In seven additional patients (three without and four with greater than 70% left anterior descending coronary artery disease), measurements were obtained with constant-paced heart rates (Group 3). Before beta blockade, NTG (200 mcg) significantly increased anterior regional great-vein flow [for Group 1, 84 +/- 38% (81 +/- 20 to 140 +/- 60 ml/min); Group 2, 39 +/- 41% (61 +/- 26 to 83 +/- 38 ml/min); and Group 3, 87 +/- 55% (75 +/- 36 to 144 +/- 86 ml/min)]. In Groups 1 and 2, beta-adrenergic blockade reduced heart rate 10% (p less than 0.01) but did not affect mean arterial or pulmonary artery pressures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)