Nitrogliserin ile aort sertliǧinin deǧişimi ve koroner arter hastaliǧinin yayginliǧi

The main objective of this study was to investigate the extent of coronary artery disease by using the effect of nitroglycerin on aortic stiffness. Two study groups were composed according to coronary angiographic results. 21 patients having single vessel disease and 22 patients multivessel disease. Pulse pressure, aortic diameter change, aortic strain and distensibility were used as aortic stiffness parameters. Antianginal medications were withheld 48 hours before the study. The patients were allowed to use sublingual nitroglycerin as necessary, but caution was taken that no nitroglycerin medication was performed within 3 hours of its administration. Echocardiographic assessment was performed in all patients before and at least 5 minutes after intravenous nitroglycerin administration. Results: Nitroglycerin exerted an increase in aortic diameter change (1.1±0.5 versus 1.6±0.6 before and after nitroglycerin, respectively; p=0.002) and aortic strain (6±3.51 vs. 9±4 before and after nitroglycerin, respectively; p<0.001) only in the single vessel group. A decrease was observed in pulse pressure after nitroglycerin in the single vessel group (59±16 vs. 49±12 before and after nitroglycerin, respectively; p<0.001). Aortic distensibility improved after nitroglycerin in the single vessel group (2.29±1.58 vs. 4.06±2.43 before and after nitroglycerin, respectively; p<0.01), while no change was observed in the multivessel group (2.61±2.43 vs. 3.78±2.77 before and after nitroglycerin, respectively; p>0.05). As compared to findings before nitroglycerin administration, the improvement of the elasticity properties of the aorta with nitroglycerin may be helpful to determine the extent of coronary artery disease.