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(Circulation. 2004;109:e208.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Correspondence

Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction and Cerebrovascular Events

H. Richard Hellstrom, MD

Anatomical Pathology, College of Medicine, Room 2106 Weiskotten Hall, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams St, Syracuse, NY 13210, hellstrr{at}mail.upstate.edu

To the Editor:

Targonski et al¹ reported that coronary endothelial dysfunction (ED) in individuals without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) quadrupled the risk of cerebrovascular events, and these findings might offer insight into mechanisms of stroke and ischemic heart disease (IHD).

ED fosters atherosclerosis,¹ and Targonski et al¹ focused on this effect of ED to explain ischemic stroke—a position consistent with the standard view that ischemic stroke and IHD are due directly to occlusions of conduit arteries by atherosclerotic complications as stenoses and thromboses. However, significant carotid atherosclerosis was probably absent in these middle-aged patients; carotid atherosclerosis is associated with CAD, and these cases lacked obstructive CAD.

ED has other effects that appear to explain the association of ED with stroke in these cases; ED is vasoconstrictive, is associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, and is a systemic disorder affecting conduit and resistance vessels in various vascular beds.¹ In keeping with these effects, I earlier proposed that spasm of resistance vessels (S-RV) induces symptoms in stroke and IHD^2,3 (Targonski et al¹ did indict S-RV in hemorrhagic stroke). This S-RV concept asserts that risk factors (which are vasoconstrictive²) operate basically through S-RV; severe atherosclerosis favors symptoms through ischemia-induced S-RV and spasm-inducing platelet aggregation. ED no doubt also operates to induce stroke through atherosclerosis; but atherosclerosis may be mild, favors S-RV, and is only one of multiple risk factors.

The S-RV concept is regarded as a challenging paradigm; these models are tested by verification/falsification,⁴ a method recently used to evaluate plaque rupture/thromboses.⁴ Verification/falsification is designed to test the ability of paradigms to explain events without inconsistencies, and evidence presented here will focus on verifications for S-RV as the mechanism of stroke.

The concept includes migraine and Raynaud’s disease, disorders attributed to S-RV,² and their interrelationships with stroke and IHD² are used as evidence; also, evidence that IHD is caused by S-RV^2–4 is relevant. Migraine, Raynaud’s disease, ischemic stroke, and IHD, as well as (vasoconstrictive) hypertension, share multiple vasoconstrictive risk factors.² Each of these 5 disorders occur more frequently with each of the other 4,² and migraine merges into stroke.² Ischemic stroke is related to hemorrhagic stroke by findings as transformation of ischemic to hemorrhagic infarct,² and association of migraine with both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.² Also, risk factors as hypertension, circadian rhythms, smoking, dyslipidemia, and cocaine use operate in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.² Additionally, the altered homeostatic theory⁵ offers a common pathophysiological basis for ischemic and other related disorders.

References

1. Targonski PV, Bonetti PO, Pumper GM, et al. Coronary endothelial dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events. Circulation. 2003; 107: 2805–2809.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
2. Hellstrom HR. New evidence for the spasm of resistance vessel concept of ischemic diseases. Med Hypotheses. 1999; 53: 200–209.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
3. Hellstrom HR. Can the premises of the spasm of resistance vessel concept permit improvement in the treatment and prevention of ischemic heart disease? Med Hypotheses. 2003; 60: 36–51.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
4. Hellstrom HR. Plaque rupture and consequent thromboses probably do not cause acute coronary syndromes. Med Hypotheses. 2003; 60: 26–35.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
5. Hellstrom HR. Can the premises of the altered homeostatic theory permit improvement in the prevention of ischemic heart disease? Med Hypotheses. 2003; 60: 12–25.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted 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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hellstrom, H. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hellstrom, H. R. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Stroke Related Collections Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide Mechanism of atherosclerosis/growth factors Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Acute Cerebral Infarction Ischemic biology - basic studies