Prognostic Impact of Coronary Vasodilator Dysfunction on Adverse Long-Term Outcome of Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endothelial vasodilator dysfunction is a characteristic feature of patients at risk for coronary atherosclerosis. Therefore, we prospectively investigated whether coronary endothelial dysfunction predicts disease progression and cardiovascular event rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Coronary vasoreactivity was assessed in 147 patients using the endothelium-dependent dilator acetylcholine, sympathetic activation by cold pressor testing, dilator responses to increased blood flow, and dilation in response to nitroglycerin. Cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary bypass grafting, ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery revascularization) served as outcome variables over a median follow-up