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01-10-2012 | Original Article

Evaluation of the endothelial function in hypertensive patients with 13N-ammonia PET

Authors: Erick Alexánderson, MD, Rodrigo Jácome, MD, Moisés Jiménez-Santos, MD, Juan Manuel Ochoa, MD, Edgar Romero, MD, Marco Antonio Peña Cabral, MD, Alejandro Ricalde, MD, Fernando Iñarra, MD, Aloha Meave, MD, Graciela Alexánderson, MD

Published in: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Issue 5/2012

Abstract

Background

Essential hypertension is one of the main risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypertension causes endothelial dysfunction which is considered an early sign for the development of CAD. Positron emission tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique that measures myocardial blood flow (MBF), allowing us to identify patients with endothelial dysfunction.

Methods and Results

19 patients without comorbidities recently diagnosed hypertensive, as well as 21 healthy volunteers were studied. A three-phase (rest, cold pressor test, and adenosine-induced hyperemia) ¹³N-ammonia PET was performed, and MBF was measured. Endothelial-Dependent Vasodilation Index, ΔMBF, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were calculated for each patient. Hypertensive patients had a significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared with the control group (134.6 ± 11.7/86.4 ± 10.6 mm Hg and 106.0 ± 11.8/71.4 ± 6.6 mm Hg, respectively, P < .001). The ENDEVI (1.28 ± 0.26 vs 1.79 ± 0.30, P < .001), the ΔMBF (0.81 ± 0.50 vs 0.25 ± 0.21, P < .001) and the CFR (2.18 ± 0.88 vs 3.17 ± 0.68, P = .001) were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients compared to the control group, 84% of the former group had endothelial dysfunction i.e., ENDEVI < 1.5 and 58% had vasomotor abnormalities, i.e., CFR < 2.5.

Conclusions

In this study, we showed that recently diagnosed hypertensive patients have coronary endothelial dysfunction and vasomotor disturbances which are early signs for the development of CAD.

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Title: Evaluation of the endothelial function in hypertensive patients with 13N-ammonia PET
Authors: Erick Alexánderson, MD
Rodrigo Jácome, MD
Moisés Jiménez-Santos, MD
Juan Manuel Ochoa, MD
Edgar Romero, MD
Marco Antonio Peña Cabral, MD
Alejandro Ricalde, MD
Fernando Iñarra, MD
Aloha Meave, MD
Graciela Alexánderson, MD
Publication date: 01-10-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 1071-3581
Electronic ISSN: 1532-6551
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-012-9584-z

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Evaluation of the endothelial function in hypertensive patients with 13N-ammonia PET

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Methods and Results

Conclusions

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