Coronary flow reserve was assessed in a patient with Anderson-Fabry disease complicated by symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy. Coronary flow reserve was measurable in all three major coronary arteries providing an opportunity to compare regional coronary flow reserve from different vascular beds. In this patient all the three vascular beds supplied diffusely hypertrophied myocardium. Corona...

Although evidence indicates that estrogen replacement therapy reduces risk of coronary heart disease, the mechanism remains unknown. Among the possibilities are that estrogen replacement therapy may 1) inhibit growth of atherosclerotic plaque and 2) decrease the prevalence of transient myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction by modulating vasomotion in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. U...

Coronary angiography demonstrates only collateral arteries that are already in use (spontaneously visible collaterals). Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) provides an opportunity to uncover collaterals ready to become functional in case of occlusion of the recipient artery (recruitable collaterals). The incidence of recruitable collaterals and their relation to the distal pre...

Coronary revascularization evolved from an understanding of the relationship between coronary obstructions and the clinical manifestations they produce. Visualization of the coronary arteries in patients was necessary, and coronary arterography made that possible. Peripheral vascular surgical techniques were logically applied to the coronary circulation as technology for cardiac surgery had bee...

Although previous studies demonstrated beneficial effects of estrogen on cardiovascular function, the Women's Health Initiative has reported an increased incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke in postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy. The objective of the present study was to identify a molecular mechanism whereby estrogen, a vasodilatory hormone, could possibly increa...

Age is known to induce remodeling and stiffening of large-conduit arteries; however, little is known of the effects of age on remodeling and mechanical properties of coronary resistance arteries. We employed a rat model of aging to investigate whether 1) age increases wall thickness and stiffness of coronary resistance arteries, and 2) exercise training reverses putative age-induced increases i...

BACKGROUND Anomalous origin of coronary arteries is a relatively rare entity, which may show different clinical forms and develop an adverse outcome. Multislice coronary angiotomography has gained importance in daily clinical practice, representing an important patient assessment method with great potential in the anatomical evaluation of these arteries. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe...

Coronary sinus blood flow was studied by the continuous thermodilution method in 13 subjects with normal coronary arteries and 14 patients with coronary artery disease during progressive elevation of the heart rate by atrial pacing. In 11 patients of the coronary group angina pectoris developed during pacing. In subjects with normal coronary arteries the coronary sinus blood flow rose proportio...