Effect of diltiazem on coronary reactive hyperemia in patients with flow-limiting coronary artery stenosis

• Published in: The American heart journal Vol. 112; no. 6; pp. 1232 - 1237
• Main Authors: Foult, Jean-Marc, Nitenberg, Alain, Blanchet, Françoise, Zouiouèche, Samir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.12.1986; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Antianginal agents. Coronary vasodilator agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiovascular system; Contrast Media; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Circulation - drug effects; Coronary Disease - complications; Coronary Disease - drug therapy; Coronary Disease - physiopathology; Diltiazem - therapeutic use; Drug Evaluation; Heart Ventricles - drug effects; Heart Ventricles - physiopathology; Hemodynamics - drug effects; Humans; Hyperemia - drug therapy; Hyperemia - etiology; Hyperemia - physiopathology; Ioxaglic Acid; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Human; Chemotherapy; Calcium antagonist; Coronary artery; Stenosis; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary heart disease; Reactive hyperemia
• ISSN: 0002-8703; 1097-6744
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-8703(86)90353-4

The acute effects of diltiazem on coronary reactive hyperemia were studied in 12 patients with flow-limiting coronary stenosis. Reactive hyperemia was elicited by injection of 8 ml contrast medium into the left coronary artery, while coronary sinus blood flow and left ventricular and aortic pressures were continuously recorded. Relative magnitude of hyperemia was estimated by the ratio of coronary flow at peak hyperemia to baseline flow (hyperemic ratio). Coronary resistance was calculated as the ratio between mean aortic pressure minus left ventricular mean diastolic pressure and coronary sinus blood flow. The 12 patients studied had flow-limiting coronary stenosis since their hyperemic ratio was significantly restrained when compared to that of seven control subjects (1.45 ± 0.17 vs 2.02 ± 0.24, respectively; < 0.001). The intravenous infusion of ditiazem (0.30 mg · kg −1) reduced heart rate, mean aortic pressure, and myocardial oxygen consumption (all p < 0.001). After diltiazem the hyperemic ratio was blunted when compared to the basal state (1.36 ± 0.15 vs 1.45 ± 0.17, respectively; p < 0.05), and hyperemia volume was reduced (−33%; p < 0.001). The decrease in coronary resistance at peak hyperemia was also reduced from −30 ± 8% to −25 ± 8% ( p < 0.05). We conclude that diltiazem blunts coronary reactive hyperemia in patients with demonstrated flow-limiting coronary stenosis. This reduction of coronary flow response to a hyperemic stimulus could favorably influence blood flow distribution in patients with significant coronary stenosis.