This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Indolfi, C. Articles by Chiariello, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Indolfi, C. Articles by Chiariello, M.

(Circulation. 1995;92:2109-2112.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Limb Vasoconstriction After Successful Angioplasty of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery

Ciro Indolfi, MD; Federico Piscione, MD; Roberto Ceravolo, MD; AntonGiulio Maione, MD; Amelia Focaccio, MD; Maria Assunta Rao, MD; Giovanni Esposito, MD; Mario Condorelli, MD; Massimo Chiariello, MD

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University Federico II, Napoli, Italy.

Correspondence to Ciro Indolfi, MD, Division of Cardiology, University Federico II, Via St Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.

Background Coronary vasoconstriction has been described after uncomplicated percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). However, it is still unknown whether this phenomenon is limited to coronary circulation. The present study was planned to assess the effects of a successful PTCA on forearm blood flow (FBF) and resistance. The role of -adrenoceptors and calcium antagonist agents on PTCA-induced limb blood flow changes was also investigated.

Methods and Results We prospectively studied 37 patients scheduled for elective single PTCA of the left anterior descending coronary artery. All patients had evidence of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. All vasoactive drugs were withdrawn for at least 48 hours before the study. FBF was measured by calibrated venous occlusion plethysmography. A significant reduction of FBF was observed at 1, 5, and 15 minutes after PTCA (from 3.7±1.2 to 2.7±1.5, 3.0±1.6, and 2.9±1.9 mL/100 mL tissue per minute, respectively; all P<.05 versus baseline). Vascular forearm resistance also increased at 1, 5, and 15 minutes after PTCA (from 27±8 to 42±16, 37±10, and 43±19 U, respectively; all P<.05 versus baseline). Phentolamine (12 µg · kg^-1 · min^-1, n=7) or verapamil (3.5 µg · kg^-1 · min^-1, n=7) also was infused intra-arterially. PTCA-induced forearm vasoconstriction was completely abolished by pretreatment with regional infusion of phentolamine or verapamil.

Conclusions After an uncomplicated PTCA of the left anterior descending coronary artery, a reduction in FBF and an increase in forearm vascular resistance were observed. This peripheral vasoconstrictive response was probably due to -adrenergic stimulation and was abolished by intra-arterial infusion of calcium antagonist agents.

Key Words: angioplasty • blood flow • verapamil • receptors • adrenergic • alpha

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Herrmann Peri-procedural myocardial injury: 2005 update Eur. Heart J., December 1, 2005; 26(23): 2493 - 2519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Kubo, E. R. Azevedo, G. E. Newton, J. D. Parker, and J. S. Floras Lack of evidence for peripheral alpha1- adrenoceptor blockade during long-term treatment of heart failure with carvedilol J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 1, 2001; 38(5): 1463 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Heusch, D. Baumgart, P. Camici, W. Chilian, L. Gregorini, O. Hess, C. Indolfi, and O. Rimoldi {alpha}-Adrenergic Coronary Vasoconstriction and Myocardial Ischemia in Humans Circulation, February 15, 2000; 101(6): 689 - 694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Perticone, R. Ceravolo, R. Maio, G. Ventura, A. Zingone, N. Perrotti, and P. L. Mattioli Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism Is Associated With Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Never Treated Hypertensive Patients Hypertension, April 1, 1998; 31(4): 900 - 905. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]