Changes in exercise coronary sinus blood flow with training in patients with angina pectoris.

This study evaluated the effects of six months of bicycle ergometer training on coronary sinus blood flow (CSBF) and left ventricular oxygen consumption (LVO,) in 10 patients with exertional angina pectoris and angiographically documented coronary artery disease. CSBF was determined by thermodilution before and after training, with the patient in the upright position under the following conditions: at rest, during exercise at an equivalent work load, during exercise at an equivalent heart rate and at symptom-limited exercise. Although resting heart rate was significantly (P < 0.05) lower after training (78 ± 9 vs 70 ± 5 beats/min), CSBF, LVO, and the product (PRP) of mean brachial artery pressure multiplied by heart rate were unchanged. At an equivalent work load averaging 400 kg-m/min heart rate (120 ± 14 vs 103 ± 11 beats/