Coronary flow reserve is supranormal in endurance athletes: an adenosine transthoracic echocardiographic study

• Published in: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. 383 - 389
• Main Authors: Hildick-Smith, D J R, Johnson, P J, Wisbey, C R, Winter, E M, Shapiro, L M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society 01.10.2000; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adenosine; adenosine transthoracic echocardiography; Adult; athlete; Athletes; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity; Cardiovascular Medicine; Cardiovascular system; Case-Control Studies; Coronary Circulation - physiology; coronary flow reserve; Coronary vessels; Coronary Vessels - anatomy & histology; Echocardiography; Endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Feasibility studies; Flow velocity; Hibernation; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physiology; Sports - physiology; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Vasodilator Agents; Veins & arteries; Sonography; Human; Regional blood flow; Pharmacologic test; Adenosine; Purine nucleoside; Echocardiography; Coronary artery; Exploration; Endurance; Technique; Athlete
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/heart.84.4.383

OBJECTIVE To compare coronary flow reserve in endurance athletes and healthy sedentary controls, using adenosine transthoracic echocardiography. METHODS 29 male endurance athletes (mean (SD) age 27.3 (6.6) years, body mass index (BMI) 22.1 (1.9) kg/m2) and 23 male controls (age 27.2 (6.1) years, BMI 23.9 (2.6) kg/m2) with no coronary risk factors underwent transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) diameter and flow, both at rest and during intravenous adenosine infusion (140 μg/kg/min). RESULTS Distal LAD diameter and flow were adequately assessed in 19 controls (83%) and 26 athletes (90%). Distal LAD diameter in athletes (2.04 (0.25) mm) was not significantly greater than in sedentary controls (1.97 (0.27) mm). Per cent increase in LAD diameter following 400 μg sublingual nitrate was greater in the athletes than in the controls, at 14.1 (7.2)%v 8.8 (5.7)% (p < 0.01). Left ventricular mass index in athletes exceeded that of controls, at 130 (19) v 98 (14) g/m2(p < 0.01). Resting flow among the athletes (10.6 (3.1) ml/min; 4.4 (1.2) ml/min/100 g left ventricular mass) was less than in the controls (14.3 (3.6) ml/min; 8.2 (2.2) ml/min/100 g left ventricular mass) (both p < 0.01). Hyperaemic flow among the athletes (61.9 (17.8) ml/min) exceeded that of the controls (51.1 (14.6) ml/min; p = 0.02), but not when corrected for left ventricular mass (25.9 (5.6) v 28.5 (7.4) ml/min/100 g left ventricular mass; NS). Coronary flow reserve was therefore substantially greater in the athletes than in the controls, at 5.9 (1.0) v 3.7 (0.7) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Coronary flow reserve in endurance athletes is supranormal and endothelium independent vasodilatation is enhanced. Myocardial hypertrophy per se does not necessarily impair coronary flow reserve. Adenosine transthoracic echocardiography is a promising technique for the investigation of coronary flow reserve.