Change in Aortic Stiffness with Nitroglycerin and Extent of Coronary Artery Disease

The main objective of this study was to investigate the extent of coro nary artery disease by using the effect of nitroglycerin on aortic stiffness. Two study g roups 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 sti ffness 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 adıninistration . Echocard iographic assessment was performed in all patien ts before and at least 5 ın inute s after intravenous nitroglycerin administration.
RESULTS
Nitroglycerin exerted an increase in aoıtic 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; p0.05). As compared to findings before nitroglycerin administration, the improvement of the elasticity properties of the aorta with nitroglycerin may be helpful to d eter ın ine the extent of coronary artery disease.