Korean Circ J.  2007 Jan;37(1):27-32. 10.4070/kcj.2007.37.1.27.

Increased Inflammatory Markers and Endothelial Dysfunction are Associated with Variant Angina

• Cho SH
• Park IH
• Jeong MH
• Hwang SH
• Yun NS
• Hong SN
• Lee SR
• Kim KH
• Moon Y
• Hong YJ
• Park HW
• Kim JH
• Ahn YK
• Cho JG
• Park JC
• Kang JC

• KMID: 2227090
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2007.37.1.27

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endothelial dysfunction and increased vascular inflammation may be associated with variant angina (VA). However, their exact roles remain to be clarified. The aim of the presents study is to investigate whether the level of inflammation markers and the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) are related to VA.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The study included 46 patients (VA group: 53.9+/-12.0 years, 20 males) with positive spasm provocation tests and they were without significant coronary stenosis, and 14 patients (control group: 46.6+/-13.5 years, 7 males) with negative spasm provocation tests and they were without significant coronary stenosis. The clinical characteristics and inflammatory markers, including the high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level, the monocyte count and the von Willebrand factor (vWF) level, and the FMD were compared between the two groups. The FMD and inflammatory markers were measured in the morning before performing the ergonovine provocation coronary angiogram.
RESULTS
The level of vWF was significantly higher in the VA group than in the control group (166.5+/-41.9% vs. 118.0+/-65.3%, respectively, p=0.029). The FMD was significantly decreased in the VA group compared with the control group (9.2+/-4.3% vs. 12.4+/-4.2%, respectively, p=0.021). Nitrate-mediated dilation did not differ between the two groups. The levels of the monocyte count, hs-CRP and homocysteine were higher in the VA group than in the control group (554.7+/-261.0/mm3 vs. 440.7+/-136.0/mm3, respectively, p=0.039; 0.3+/-0.4 mg/dL vs. 0.1+/-0.1 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.029; 7.54+/-4.0micronmol/L vs. 5.92+/-1.6micronmol/L, respectively, p=0.033).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggested that increased inflammatory markers and endothelial dysfunction may be associated with variant angina.

Keyword

Angina pectoris; Inflammation; Endothelium

MeSH Terms

Angina Pectoris
C-Reactive Protein
Coronary Stenosis
Endothelium
Ergonovine
Homocysteine
Humans
Inflammation
Monocytes
Spasm
von Willebrand Factor
C-Reactive Protein
Ergonovine
Homocysteine
von Willebrand Factor

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was significantly decreased in patients with variant angina (group I) than in control patients (group II). However, the nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) was not different between the two groups.

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