Dalia Jarašūnienė, Ernesta Susekaitė, Nerijus Klimas
Abstract
Coronary endothelial dysfunction is known to be related with adverse cardiovascular outcome. We obtained a long-term follow-up of patients without significant coronary atherosclerosis, complaining of chest pain, in whom intracoronary acetylcholine testing was performed in order to assess endothelial function. The study included 41 patient (35 with endothelial dysfunction, 6 with preserved endothelial function). Events considered as adverse outcome were cardiovascular death, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary-aortic by-pass grafting, ischemic stroke and peripheral artery revascularization. A high cardiovascular event rate was observed in patients with and without endothelial dysfunction, 34,3% and 50% respectively. Adverse outcome was related not only to endothelial dysfunction but also to traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, evaluation of endothelial function or its determinants seems to be helpful in identifying a subgroup of patients at high risk.
Keyword(s): acetylcholine; angina; coronary atherosclerosis; endothelium; prognosis
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2013.021
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