Changes in heart rate variability caused by coronary angioplasty depend on the localisation of coronary lesions.

BACKGROUND Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a common treatment method in patients with coronary heart disease, but its effects on heart rate variability (HRV) have not been well established. AIM To verify whether the localisation of coronary lesion undergoing PTCA affects HRV parameters. METHODS Ninety six consecutive individuals underwent elective coronary angiography with subsequent ad hoc successful PTCA. Two five-minute ECG were recorded, one before PTCA and the second 24-hour after PTCA. The HRV indices were determined by means of classical and 'new' mathematical models. RESULTS The PTCA-induced changes in HRV variables depended on the localisation of dilated lesion. PTCA of the circumflex artery revealed the most significant HRV changes--a decrease in value of domain indices: Yeh DI (0.033+/-0.031 vs. 0.011+/-0.006 un/unitless, p=0.005), Yeh II (0.053+/-0.039 vs. 0.032+/-0.013 un, p=0.017), Organ BAND (9.101+/-9.245 vs. 4.62+/-2.205 bpm/beat per minute, p=0.031), Huey STV (208.821+/-262.248 vs. 76.444+/-35.281 bpm, p=0.013), Dalton MABB (15.733+/-16.575 vs. 7.57+/-4.89 ms, p=0.015), Dalton SD (48.741+/-37.468 vs. 27.759+/-10.533 ms, p=0.015), Zugaib STV (0.0129+/-0.0132 vs. 0.005+/-0.003 un, p=0.005), SDNN (27.204+/-18.592 vs. 21.329+/-32.784 ms, p=0.044), rMSSD (56.239+/-19.751 vs. 51.496+/-43.889 ms, p=0.025) and increased LF/HF (2.384+/-2.072 vs. 5.632+/-5.379 un, p=0.044). Angioplasty of the right coronary artery resulted in decreased AR TP (18.273+/-2.296 vs. 17.085+/-2.256 ms(2), p=0.017) and alteration of the sympathovagal balance of the autonomic nervous system towards predominance of sympathetic activity: AR LF (0.264+/-0.029 vs. 0.284+/-0.040 un, p=0.007), LF/HF (4.310+/-4.457 vs. 6.958+/-7.013 un, p=0.018), HF (0.199+/-0.165 vs. 0.141+/-0.157 un, p=0.031), AR HF (0.647+/-0.043 vs. 0.621+/-0.054 un, p=0.014). PTCA of the left anterior descending artery caused no change. CONCLUSION Changes in heart rate variability caused by coronary angioplasty depend on the localisation of coronary lesions.