neuropeptide-y and Angina-Pectoris--Variant

One of the causes of coronary artery spasm in patients with variant angina could be a disturbed interaction between the vasodilating action of endothelial derived relaxing factor and the vasospastic action of neuropeptide Y and thromboxane B2. The aim of this study was a verification of the participation of neuropeptide Y and thromboxane B2 in etiopathogenesis of the coronary artery spasm in patients with variant angina. The survey was made in 38 patients with variant angina and in 18 patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. The control group consisted of 20 healthy persons. Before the hyperventilation test, during which the person under test has been breathing with a frequency of 40/minute through 5 minutes, the Tris (tromethamol) of pH = 10.5 has been given in intravenous infusion lasting for 5 minutes. The neuropeptide Y and thromboxane B2 plasma levels have been determined just before the hyperventilation test, just after the termination of the test and 10 minutes after the termination of the test. Neuropeptide Y and thromboxane B2 plasma levels have been determined with a radioimmunologic method. It has been recorded that during the hyperventilation test in all of the 38 patients with variant angina the clinical and the electrocardiographic symptoms of the coronary artery spasm have appeared--but these have not appeared in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris and in healthy persons. The level of neuropeptide Y in patients with variant angina before the test, just at its end and as well as 10 min. after completing of the hyperventilation test, was significantly higher compared with the level in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris and controls. Contrary to chronic stable angina pectoris patients and controls, in variant angina group the level of neuropeptide Y increased rapidly at the end of the test and further elevation in neuropeptide Y level was observed 10 min. after the test. There was no difference in basal thromboxane B2 levels between angina patients and controls. At the end of hyperventilation test in variant angina group thromboxane B2 level significantly increased and remained on this level until 10 min. after the test. Significant increase of neuropeptide Y and thromboxane B2 plasma levels in variant angina patients during artery coronary spasm induced by hyperventilation test suggests the contribution of these humoral factors to the pathogenesis of vasospastic episodes in angina patients.

Topics: Adult; Angina Pectoris; Angina Pectoris, Variant; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropeptide Y; Thromboxane B2