Relations between heart rate, ischemia, and drug therapy during daily life in patients with coronary artery disease

Cardiac regeneration - Past advancements, current challenges, and future directions

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite improvements in the standard of care for patients with heart diseases, including innovation in pharmacotherapy and surgical interventions, none have yet been proven effective to prevent the progression to heart failure. Cardiac transplantation is the last resort for patients with severe heart failure, but donor shortages remain a roadblock. Cardiac regenerative strategies include cell-based therapeutics, gene therapy, direct reprogramming of non-cardiac cells, acellular biologics, and tissue engineering methods to restore damaged hearts. Significant advancements have been made over the past several decades within each of these fields. This review focuses on the advancements of: 1) cell-based cardiac regenerative therapies, 2) the use of noncoding RNA to induce endogenous cell proliferation, and 3) application of bioengineering methods to promote retention and integration of engrafted cells. Different cell sources have been investigated, including adult stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose cells, cardiosphere-derived cells, skeletal myoblasts, and pluripotent stem cells. In addition to cell-based transplantation approaches, there have been accumulating interest over the past decade in inducing endogenous CM proliferation for heart regeneration, particularly with the use of noncoding RNAs such as miRNAs and lncRNAs. Bioengineering applications have focused on combining cell-transplantation approaches with fabrication of a porous, vascularized scaffold using biomaterials and advanced bio-fabrication techniques that may offer enhanced retention of transplanted cells, with the hope that these cells would better engraft with host tissue to improve cardiac function. This review summarizes the present status and future challenges of cardiac regenerative therapies.

Facile Fabrication of a Flexible LiNbO3 Piezoelectric Sensor through Hot Pressing for Biomechanical Monitoring

Wearable pressure sensors have attracted increasing attention for biomechanical monitoring due to their portability and flexibility. Although great advances have been made, there are no facile methods to produce sensors with good performance. Here, we present a simple method for manufacturing flexible and self-powered piezoelectric sensors based on LiNbO₃ (LN) particles. The LN particles are dispersed in polypropylene (PP) doped with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by hot pressing (200 °C) to form a flexible LN/MWCNT/PP piezoelectric composite film (PCF) sensor. This cost-effective sensor has high sensitivity (8 Pa), fast response time (ca. 40 ms), and long-term stability (>3000 cycles). Measurements of pressure changes from peripheral arteries demonstrate the applicability of the LN/MWCNT/PP PCF sensor to biomechanical monitoring as well as its potential for biomechanics-related clinical diagnosis and forecasting.

Ivabradine in combination with Beta-blockers in patients with chronic stable angina after percutaneous coronary intervention

Introduction

The anti-anginal efficacy of ivabradine is well established. We describe a post hoc analysis in the ADDITIONS database to investigate effectiveness and tolerability of ivabradine in combination with beta-blocker in patients with angina who have had a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

ADDITIONS was a non-interventional, multicenter prospective study including 2,330 patients with stable angina. In addition to beta-blocker, patients were treated with ivabradine in approved dosages for 4 months. We divided the population according to whether they had previously had a PCI or not, and explored the effect of ivabradine on heart rate, number of weekly angina attacks, frequency of nitrate consumption, as well as quality of life (QoL) and tolerability.

Results

Data were available for 2,319 patients, of whom 51.4% had previously had a PCI. There was no difference in the effect of ivabradine on mean heart rate between patients with a previous PCI [64.4 ± 7.6 beats per minute (bpm)] than those without (66.8 ± 8.5 bpm) at 4 months (both P < 0.0001). Similarly, the number of angina attacks decreased from 1.9 ± 2.4 to 0.5 ± 1.5 per week in patients with a previous PCI and 1.5 ± 2.0 to 0.3 ± 1.0 per week in patients without a previous PCI (both P < 0.0001). The frequency of nitrate consumption fell from 2.7 ± 3.7 to 1.0 ± 1.9 per week and 1.8 ± 2.8 to 0.6 ± 1.5 per week (both P < 0.0001) in patients with and without a previous PCI, respectively. There was no difference in the improvements in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class of angina, QoL, and physicians’ assessment of effectiveness and tolerability between patients with a previous PCI and those without.

Conclusion

Ivabradine is an effective and well-tolerated anti-anginal treatment in patients with stable angina after PCI. Ivabradine reduced the frequency of weekly angina attacks and nitrate consumption, led to an improvement in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class and a substantial improvement in the QoL of stable angina patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12325-015-0182-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Treatment of stable angina pectoris by ivabradine in every day practice: the REDUCTION study

BACKGROUND

The antianginal efficacy of ivabradine was studied in controlled clinical trials. Strict patient selection criteria may cause a discrepancy between the results of highly controlled clinical trials and everyday routine practice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ivabradine in everyday routine practice.

METHODS

In this multicenter study, 4,954 patients with stable angina pectoris received ivabradine in everyday routine practice and underwent follow-up for 4 months. The heart rate (HR), angina pectoris attacks, nitrate consumption, overall efficacy, and tolerance were evaluated.

RESULTS

Within 4 months of treatment with ivabradine, HR was reduced by 12.4 +/- 12.2 beat/min from 82.9 +/- 15.3 to 70.4 +/- 9.2 beat/min (P < .0001). Angina pectoris attacks were reduced from 2.4 +/- 3.1 to 0.4 +/- 1.5 per week (P < .0001). Consumption of short-acting nitrates was reduced from 3.3 +/- 4.4 to 0.6 +/- 1.6 U/wk (P < .0001). Seventy-eight cases of adverse drug reactions were reported. The most common adverse drug reactions were nausea (n = 11, 0.22%) and dizziness (n = 9, 0.18%). Efficacy and tolerance were graded by physicians as being "excellent/very good" for 97% and 98% of the patients treated.

CONCLUSION

Ivabradine reduces the HR and is highly effective and well tolerated in the treatment of patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease. The results confirm the findings of controlled clinical trials in a broad patient population in everyday routine practice.

The importance of von Willebrand factor level and heart rate changes in acute coronary syndromes: a comparison with chronic ischemic conditions

The pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and transient myocardial ischemia (TMI) is not completely understood. Therefore, the authors studied the biological indicators of thrombogenesis and sympathetic activity. The study was conducted on 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome and 30 patients with stable angina pectoris. Treatment was standardized with low-molecular-weight heparin and 300 mg aspirin/day but with no IIb/IIIa inhibitors, an oral beta-blocker, diltiazem 60 mg tid, glyceryl trinitrate i.v. in patients with ACS but with mononitrates orally and low-molecular-weight heparin in patients with stable angina. Twenty-four-hour continuous ECG monitoring and ST segment analysis were performed on day 2 of admission and heart rate analysis was performed 10, 5, and 1 minute before and during the myocardial ischemia periods. Blood sampling for von Willebrand factor (vWf) determination was performed through a peripheral vein at 8 AM, noon, 6 PM and 10 PM and half an hour after the description of angina. The patients with ACS were grouped as transient myocardial ischemia positive (n = 20) and negative (n = 30). The patients with stable angina were designated as the control group (n = 30). The detected vWf levels at 4 different daytime periods in patients with ACS were significantly higher than those in patients with stable angina. At the 6 PM to 10 PM period, the vWf level increase was significantly higher in patients with TMI than in the patients without TMI. At the 8 AM to noon period, the detected vWf levels decreased significantly in both TMI groups. During the nocturnal ischemia periods, the increase in vWf levels immediately after angina was significantly more apparent than the detected changes during daytime ischemia. Analysis showed that heart rates before the ischemia during stable angina episodes were significantly higher than those in TMI (-) (silent) angina. The heart rate difference between 10 minutes before and during the ischemia in the angina group was significantly different from that during TMI (-) (silent) ischemia. The heart rates at the times related to ischemia in the nocturnal period were significantly lower than those in the daytime period. The heart rate differences between the ischemia-related times and during the ischemia were significantly higher in daytime ischemic attacks than in nocturnal ischemic attacks. The study confirms that the vWf level, which is an indicator of thrombogenesis, was significantly increased in patients with ACS. Nocturnal ischemia is associated with thrombogenesis. Daytime ischemia is associated with increased sympathetic activity, and symptomatic ischemia is usually associated with increased sympathetic activity.

Clinical and angiographic determinants of adverse cardiac events in patients with stent restenosis

Patients with angiographically proven stent restenoses do not necessarily develop adverse cardiac events. Which clinical, procedural, or angiographic parameters relate to the development of adverse cardiac events among these patients has not been determined. This study included 155 patients (167 stented lesions) with angiographically proven restenosis (> or = 50% diameter stenosis) within the stent or at its margins in routine follow-up angiograms that was obtained at 6.5 +/- 3.6 months after successful stenting. Thirty-six patients (22%) had adverse cardiac events (including unstable angina necessitating target lesion revascularization, acute myocardial infarction, or cardiac death) during follow-up and 119 patients (78%) were event-free. These two groups of patients were compared to determine the parameters related to adverse cardiac events. Univariate determinants of adverse events included hypertension (P = 0.023), unstable angina at initial presentation (P = 0.002), target lesion in proximal left anterior descending artery (P = 0.041), TIMI grade 0-2 flow in follow-up angiograms (p < 0.001), impaired left ventricular function at follow-up (P = 0.002), follow-up minimal lumen diameter < or = 0.6 mm (P = 0.003), follow-up diameter stenosis > 75% (P = 0.005), late loss > 2 mm (P = 0.01), and loss index > 1.127 (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated hypertension (odds ratio, OR, = 3.6; P = 0.019), unstable angina at initial presentation (OR = 2.6; P = 0.007), TIMI grade 0-2 flow at follow-up (OR = 2.8; P = 0.05), impaired LV function at follow-up (OR = 4.2; P = 0.004), and loss index > 1.127 (OR = 3.6; P = 0.017) as independent risk factors for adverse cardiac events. Classification and regression tree analysis identified loss index > 1.127 and impaired LV function as the two strongest determinant of adverse cardiac event. Therefore, hypertensive patients whose initial clinical presentation were unstable angina should be managed carefully to optimize the angiographic results and, most importantly, followed up more closely for development of impaired LV function after coronary stenting in order to prevent the occurrence of adverse cardiac event at follow-up.

Angioscopy of culprit coronary lesions in unstable angina pectoris and correlation of clinical presentation with plaque morphology

This study demonstrates that plaque disruption and thrombus are absent in a considerable number of patients with unstable angina and that culprit lesion morphologies as assessed by angioscopy may differ among the various clinical subsets of patients. Although plaque disruption and thrombus undoubtedly play an important role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina, alternative mechanisms may be responsible for ischemia in some patients.

Blood pressure changes during transient myocardial ischemia: insights into mechanisms

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the contribution of changes in systemic blood pressure to the genesis of spontaneous myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND

Although increases in heart rate often precede the development of spontaneous myocardial ischemia, it remains a subject of controversy whether these are accompanied by simultaneous changes in blood pressure.

METHODS

Using an ambulatory monitoring device that triggered blood pressure recordings from the level of the ST segment, we documented systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate changes related to episodes of ST segment depression in 17 patients with stable coronary artery disease.

RESULTS

Systolic blood pressure and heart rate, but not diastolic pressure, increased significantly before the onset of ST segment depression and persisted throughout the ischemic episode. There was a significant correlation between the changes in heart rate and systolic blood pressure during episodes of myocardial ischemia (r = 0.5, p = 0.0005) and between heart rate and systolic blood pressure changes at 1-mm ST segment depression during treadmill exercise testing and ambulatory monitoring (r = 0.73, p = 0.0005 for heart rate; r = 0.77, p = 0.0008 for systolic blood pressure), indicating that patients with a low heart rate threshold during ischemic episodes also had a lower systolic blood pressure threshold before ischemia during both tests. Circadian changes in systolic blood pressure paralleled the variations in heart rate and ischemic episodes, with the lowest values at night.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant increases in myocardial oxygen demand, including systolic blood pressure, occur during episodes of spontaneous myocardial ischemia. Patients with a lower heart rate threshold during ischemic episodes had a lower systolic blood pressure threshold during both ambulatory monitoring and treadmill exercise. The effects of antianginal therapy on blood pressure changes during ischemia need to be explored further.

Cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis and the ischemic manifestations of coronary artery disease

Many of the cellular mechanisms and dysfunctions that underlie atherosclerotic plaque formation have been identified, including adverse interactions between atherogenic lipids and the arterial endothelium, loss of endothelium-dependent dilation, accumulation of inflammatory cells and mediators of inflammation in the intima of the arteries, and a decline in anticoagulant defenses. Several studies have shown that these mechanisms, which appear to be active throughout the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis, are reversible within days, weeks, or months with effective lipid-lowering therapy. In addition, the findings of large-scale trials of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors suggest that the rapid improvement observed in trial participants is attributable to a reversal of endothelial and vascular wall dysfunctions rather than to a reduction in plaque size. The accumulated evidence indicates that improved endothelial function can benefit patients who have angina pectoris and/or are at risk for myocardial infarction. Current understanding of the cellular mechanisms of atherogenesis also suggests avenues of future research to refine treatment approaches and further improve outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease.

Autonomic changes associated with spontaneous coronary spasm in patients with variant angina

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to investigate whether changes in nervous autonomic tone may have a role in the mechanisms triggering spontaneous coronary spasm in variant angina.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that both sympathetic and vagal activation may act as a trigger of epicardial artery spasm in patients with variant angina, but the actual role of autonomic changes in spontaneous coronary spasm remains unknown.

METHODS

We analyzed the changes in heart rate variability associated with episodes of ST segment elevation detected on Holter monitoring in 23 patients with variant angina (18 men, 5 women; mean [+/-SD] age 59 +/- 12 years). For study purposes, episodes of transmural ischemia lasting > or = 3 min and without any ST segment changes in the previous 40 min were selected for analysis. Heart rate variability indexes were calculated at 2-min intervals, at 30,15,5 and 1 min before ST elevation and at peak ST segment elevation. Ninety-three of 239 total ischemic episodes (39%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The results showed that 1) high frequency (HF) (0.04 to 0.15 Hz), a heart rate variability index specific for vagal activity, decreased in the 2 min preceding ST segment elevation (p < 0.001) and returned to basal levels at peak ST segment elevation; 2) heart rate and low frequency (0.04 to 0.15 Hz), which are partially correlated with sympathetic activity, showed a significant increase at peak ST segment elevation (p < 0.001 for both); 3) the pattern of the HF reduction before ST segment elevation was consistently confirmed in several subgroups of ischemic episodes, including those of patients with or without coronary stenoses, those of patients with anterior or inferior ST segment elevation, those occurring during daily or nightly hours and silent episodes. There were no significant variations in heart rate variability in control periods selected from Holter tapes of patients and before ST segment elevation induced by balloon inflation in 20 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that changes in autonomic tone are likely to contribute to trigger or predispose to epicardial spasm. In particular, although not excluding an active role for adrenergic mechanisms, our data suggest that a vagal withdrawal may often be a component of the mechanisms leading to spontaneous coronary vasospasm.

Frequency, significance, and mechanism of myocardial ischemia during daily activities detected by Holter dynamic electrocardiogram

Exercise testing (EX) and Holter ECG (DCG) were performed consecutively in 52 patients with ischemic heart disease. A total of 100 episodes of myocardial ischemia (IE) were recorded during DCG in 30 patients, who constituted 94% of the patients with myocardial ischemia under 6 metabolic equivalents (METs) during EX. A significant increase in heart rate (HR) was observed before the development of IE. The duration of this increase in HR was longer in IE than in periods in which the HR increased above the ischemic threshold, but without ischemia. The incidence of IE showed two peaks at 8-10 am and 4-6 pm. The frequency of IE among all of the periods with increased HR was highest at 8-10 am (51%). IE in the morning was associated with a lower HR than that in the afternoon, and LF/HF, which reflects sympathetic activity, evaluated using power spectral analysis, increased before IE in the morning. The early appearance of myocardial ischemia in EX can predict its appearance in daily life. The increase in HR and its duration appear to be associated with the development of IE. The increases in sympathetic activity in the morning and the increase in myocardial oxygen demand accompanied by physical activity in the afternoon most likely contributed to the circadian variation in the incidence of ischemic episodes.

Patterns and behavior of transient myocardial ischemia in stable coronary disease are the same in both men and women: a comparative study

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare the circadian variations in transient ischemic activity, mean heart rate and ischemic threshold between women and men with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

There is a circadian variation in ischemic activity, onset of myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary artery disease, but studies assessing ischemia have incorporated predominantly male subjects.

METHODS

Thirty-one women and 45 men underwent at least 48 h of ambulatory ST segment monitoring.

RESULTS

There was a similar and significant circadian variation in ischemic activity in both women and men (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), with a trough at night, a surge in the morning and a peak between 1 and 2 PM, corresponding to a similar circadian variation in mean hourly heart rate (p < 0.0001) that was not different between men and women (p = 0.28, power to detect a shift 99.9%). Mean heart rate at onset of ischemia (ischemic threshold) had similar variability in women and men (p = 0.96), and harmonic regression analysis confirmed a significant circadian variation (p < 0.0001), with a trough at night and a peak during activity hours. Heart rate increased significantly in the 5 min before ischemia throughout the 24 h (p < 0.0001), with no gender differences in the pattern of preonset to onset heart rate changes over time (p = 0.52); the smallest differences were recorded in the middle of the night. The majority of ischemic episodes (80%) had a heart rate increase > 5 beats/min in the 5 min before ischemia, but there were no gender differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with coronary artery disease have a pattern of ischemic activity and underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms very similar to men. The importance of increase in myocardial oxygen demand in the genesis of ischemia in both men and women is reflected by similar magnitude of heart rate increases before ischemia. The lower ischemic threshold during the nocturnal hours, when blood pressure is also lower, is consistent with a circadian variation in underlying coronary vascular tone.

Hemodynamic changes as triggers of cardiovascular events

Although a large number of clinical studies during the past decade have documented that myocardial ischemia, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death have definite circadian patterns, recently published work suggests that it is not necessarily a specific time of the day but the sleep/wake cycle and postural changes as well as the balance between triggers and protective factors that determine the onset of cardiovascular events. A clear understanding of the pathophysiologic processes responsible for ischemic events and the specific roles played by various triggers would be helpful in better defining the therapeutic strategies designed for the prevention and treatment of acute cardiac events. Because changes in hemodynamic parameters are of paramount importance in initiating an ischemic event, it is critical to review their role and relationship in the pathogenesis of acute coronary events.

Calcium channel antagonists in the management of anginal syndromes: changing concepts in relation to the role of coronary vasospasm

Despite the increasing evidence that alterations in coronary vascular tone can and do occur in patients with anginal syndromes, only in a minority of such patients with Prinzmetal's angina is there decisive evidence that the coronary vasodilation induced by calcium channel antagonists (CCAs) plays a specific therapeutic role. CCAs may also give therapeutic benefit in a number of conditions in which coronary vasoconstriction may contribute to ischemia, such as hyperventilation, cold-induced angina, or silent ischemia not caused by an increase in heart rate. Thus, the decision of whether or not to use CCAs in angina syndromes will often have to be made on grounds other than what appears to be a minor role of vasospasm in the overall spectrum of angina. There are preliminary indications that the long-term prognosis may be different among different categories of CCAs.

Transient myocardial ischemia in patients with chronic angina: relation to heart rate changes and variability in exercise threshold. BAY r 1999 in Chronic Angina Study Group

This study was undertaken to assess the relation of ambulatory myocardial ischemia to heart rate changes and variability in exercise threshold in patients with chronic angina. The study involved 118 patients with chronic angina and proven coronary artery disease who had a 'positive' exercise test result. All patients underwent a first exercise test followed by a 48-h period of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. A second exercise test was performed 4 days later. A total of 101 ischemic episodes were recorded in 35 patients. The heart rate at the appearance of 1-mm ST segment depression during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring was > or = 20 beats/min lower than that during exercise testing in 58 ischemic episodes (57%, Group A), 10-19 beats/min lower in 26 (26%, Group B), and < or = 9 beats/min lower or higher in 17 (17%, Group C). Thirty-five percent of the Group A ischemic episodes, 69% of Group B, and 71% of Group C were preceded by an increase in heart rate of > or = 10 beats/min. Thirty patients showed a variable exercise threshold. The prevalence of Group A and B ischemic episodes was not significantly different in patients with fixed or variable exercise threshold, whereas that of Group C episodes was 22% in the former and 0% in the latter (P = 0.036). These results suggest that increased coronary tone may be one of the mechanisms contributing to modulate the occurrence of transient myocardial ischemia in most patients with chronic angina and transient myocardial ischemia at ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. This occurs regardless of whether the patients have a variable or fixed exercise threshold.

Coronary artery spasm. Multiple causes and multiple roles in heart disease

Myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death may be initiated by a sudden intense localized contraction of coronary artery smooth muscle. When this event occurs around a vulnerable eccentric lipid-filled plaque, rupture and extrusion of plaque contents and exposure of collagen occur. This may sometimes be a silent and self-limiting event; other times it leads to thrombus formation. A second wave of spasm due to accumulated platelet and inflammatory mediators may compound the contractile consequences of the initiating event. Spasm involves intrinsic smooth muscle cell electrical mechanisms, hyper-responsive cells, and multiple agonists that synergize their actions, and the involvement of each mechanism varies at different times in the sequence of vascular occlusion. Study of spasm requires vascular systems that adequately model coronary artery responses of the ageing human heart. As previously emphasized, tissues obtained postmortem, and when possible from recipients during heart transplants, must be integral to theory building, alongside animal models, despite the experimental limitations such tissues impose. A multidisciplinary approach, at all levels of vascular physiology and pharmacology, will be necessary to understand coronary motor activity and human heart disease.

Effect of amlodipine, atenolol and their combination on myocardial ischemia during treadmill exercise and ambulatory monitoring. Canadian Amlodipine/Atenolol in Silent Ischemia Study (CASIS) Investigators

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the effects of amlodipine, atenolol and their combination on ischemia during treadmill testing and 48-h ambulatory monitoring.

BACKGROUND

It is not known whether anti-ischemic drugs exert similar effects on ischemia during ambulatory monitoring and exercise treadmill testing.

METHODS

Patients with stable coronary artery disease and ischemia during treadmill testing and ambulatory monitoring were randomized to receive amlodipine (n = 51) or atenolol (n = 49). Each group underwent a counterbalanced, crossover evaluation of single drug and placebo, followed by evaluation of the combination.

RESULTS

Amlodipine and the combination prolonged exercise time to 0.1-mV ST segment depression by 29% and 34%, respectively (p < 0.001) versus 3% for atenolol (p = NS). During ambulatory monitoring, the frequency of ischemic episodes decreased by 28% with amlodipine (p = 0.083 [NS]), by 57% with atenolol (p < 0.001) and by 72% with the combination (p < 0.05 vs. both single drugs; p < 0.001 vs. placebo). Suppression of ischemia during exercise testing and ambulatory monitoring was similar in patients with and without exercise-induced angina. Exercise time to angina improved by 29% with amlodipine (p < 0.01), by 16% with atenolol (p < 0.05) and by 39% with the combination (p < 0.005 vs. placebo, atenolol and amlodipine). In patients with angina, total exercise time improved by 16% with amlodipine (p < 0.001), by 4% with atenolol (p = NS) and by 19% with the combination (p < 0.05 vs. placebo and either single drug). In those patients without angina, no therapy significantly improved total exercise time.

CONCLUSIONS

Ischemia during treadmill testing was more effectively suppressed by amlodipine, whereas ischemia during ambulatory monitoring was more effectively suppressed by atenolol. The combination was more effective than either single drug in both settings.

Differential autonomic mechanisms underlying early morning and daytime transient myocardial ischaemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES

To see whether autonomic regulatory mechanisms play a part in transient myocardial ischaemia in patients treated with beta blockers.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Outpatients' clinic.

PATIENTS

51 consecutive patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease, stable angina, and transient myocardial ischaemia despite beta blockade.

INTERVENTIONS

24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring for analysis of variability in ST depression and heart rate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Numbers of episodes of ischaemia, with an ST depression of > or = 0.1 mV 80 ms after the J point that lasted > or = 60 s at an interval of > or = 60 s from a previous ischaemic episode. Heart rate at onset of ischaemia. Normalised spectral analysis of heart rate variability; ratio of low to high frequency power to assess the sympathovagal balance.

RESULTS

Despite treatment, 258 episodes of transient ischaemia were recorded. At heart rates at onset of ischaemia of < 70 beats per minute a high ratio of low to high frequency power accompanied the ischaemic events and was paralleled by a remarkably reduced high frequency power. The high ratio--that is, enhanced sympathetic tone during ischaemia--was mainly found in the early morning. By contrast, ischaemic episodes with heart rates at onset of > or = 70 beats per minute were not associated with significant changes in the parameters of autonomic function.

CONCLUSIONS

During beta blockade the residual transient ischaemia is associated with decreased variability in heart rate. In particular, in ischaemic episodes with a low heart rate at onset the neural regulation of the heart plays a part. Apparently, variability in heart rate is not sufficiently modified by beta blockers to prevent all ischaemia. The ischaemia related change in the autonomic nervous system during the early morning is in agreement with previous studies, showing increased cardiovascular risk at this time of the day.

Use of exercise test parameters to predict presence and duration of ambulatory ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease

Myocardial ischemia is an indicator of adverse prognosis. In patients with stable angina and positive exercise tests, prolonged cumulative ischemia on ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring identifies a high-risk group with severe coronary artery disease and poor survival. To determine whether features of the exercise test can accurately (1) predict the occurrence of ambulatory ischemia, and (2) classify patients into subgroups at varying levels of risk for ambulatory ischemia, we studied 48 patients with a history of angina and documented coronary disease who underwent the standard Bruce protocol and ambulatory monitoring. All patients had a positive exercise treadmill test, and 26 had ischemia on Holter monitoring (total of 2,922 minutes, 173 episodes, 94% with silent ischemia). The remaining 22 patients did not have ischemia. The exercise test parameters showing significant differences between the 2 groups were (1) time to > or = 1 mm ST-segment depression (p < 0.0003), (2) maximal ST-segment depression (p < 0.004), and (3) exercise capacity (p < 0.037). These data were used to develop a model for predicting the presence and the severity of ambulatory ischemia. Time to onset of > or = 1 mm ST-segment depression and maximal ST-segment depression on exercise treadmill testing can be used to determine the likelihood of mild (1 to 5 episodes or lasting < or = 60 minutes) or severe prolonged (> 5 episodes or lasting > 60 minutes) ambulatory ischemia. Patients with a very high or very low probability of ischemia on Holter monitoring can be identified by certain exercise test parameters and may not need to undergo monitoring.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heart rate variability before the occurrence of silent myocardial ischemia during ambulatory monitoring

Thirty-three ischemic episodes in 19 patients with stable coronary artery disease were studied to clarify changing autonomic nervous system activity during daily life before the occurrence of myocardial ischemia. Nonischemic points were studied for comparison of control data with ischemic episodes. These were defined as (1) patient showing no ischemic ST-T change while having the same heart rate with onset of ischemic episodes, and (2) presence within 1 to 2 hours before or after onset of ischemic episodes in the same patient. We analyzed heart rate (HR) variability during the 30-minute period before the onset and after the end of ischemic episodes during 24-hour monitoring. The period of 30 to 40 minutes before ischemia was regarded as the baseline, and HR variability was analyzed at 10-minute intervals before each ischemic episode and nonischemic point. HR variability was quantified on the band of 2 components: low frequency (0.04 to 0.15 Hz; LF) and high frequency (0.15 to 0.40 Hz; HF). Of the 33 episodes, 24 (73%) had a greater LF/HF value during the 30-minute period before ischemia than that before the nonischemic points. Distribution of the number of the 24 episodes demonstrated circadian rhythm with a peak from 8 to 10 A.M. HF power began to decrease from the last 10 minutes before ischemia, compared with baseline. A significant decrease in HF power with a background of greater value of LF/HF may explain the reduced ischemic threshold for ischemia during daily life.

Morning increase in ambulatory ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Importance of physical activity and increased cardiac demand

BACKGROUND

The morning increase in asymptomatic ambulatory ischemia may be due to heightened coronary tone, increased physical activity, or both. If ambulatory ischemia is primarily due to physical activity, then alterations in the schedule of physical activity should be reflected in a corresponding alteration in the occurrence of ischemia. This study was designed to examine the relation between activity patterns and the frequency of ambulatory ischemic episodes and the effect of nadolol on these relations.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of nadolol versus placebo was performed in 20 patients with stable coronary artery disease. At the end of each 2-week treatment phase, patients were hospitalized for 48 hours. In the hospital, there was a regular activity day (awaken and assume normal activities at 8:00 AM) and a delayed activity day (awaken at 8:00 AM, arise at 10:00 AM, and begin normal activity at noon). Ambulatory ECG monitoring was performed throughout the hospitalization. On the regular activity day, there was a morning increase in heart rate and in the number of ischemic episodes during therapy with placebo that began at 8:00 AM. In contrast, on the delayed activity day, there was a 4-hour phase shift of the increases in heart rate and the increase in ischemic episodes (ie, at noon) corresponding to the onset of physical activities. Therapy with nadolol caused a 50% reduction in the total number of ischemic episodes (129 versus 65, placebo versus nadolol; P < .02). During nadolol therapy, there was no discernible circadian peak in the number of ischemic episodes on either activity day. During placebo treatment, 87% of ischemic episodes were preceded by an increase in heart rate > or = 5 beats per minute. Although nadolol caused a significant reduction in the total number of episodes preceded by a heart rate increase compared with placebo (99 versus 38 episodes, P < .04), this therapy was associated with a significant increase in the number of episodes not associated with a heart rate increase (15 versus 21 episodes, P < .002).

CONCLUSIONS

The morning increase in ambulatory ischemic episodes is due to physical activity patterns. The majority of ischemic episodes are preceded by a heart rate increase, and it is these episodes that are primarily responsible for the morning increase in ischemia. Therapy with nadolol caused a reduction in the total number of ischemic episodes solely by reducing those episodes preceded by a heart rate increase. In contrast, nadolol caused a significant increase in the number of ischemic episodes not associated with a heart rate increase, perhaps in part because it potentiated coronary vasoconstriction.

Silent myocardial ischemia

The documentation of abnormalities related to myocardial ischemia, whether symptomatic or silent, is of central importance. Whenever this information is available, it should be used in the overall assessment of the patient at risk for adverse outcome. The level of concern for treatment of CAD should be based on the risk implications associated with the ischemia-related abnormalities detected during objective testing rather than on the presence or absence of pain. The exercise stress test is still the single most useful test to begin the evaluation of a patient with an analyzable ST segment. In persons suspected of having CAD, the detection of ischemic-type ST-segment depression, at a low workload (e.g., < 120 beats/min or < 6.5 METS) of > 2 mm magnitude or persisting for more than 6 min implies high risk for adverse outcome. Asymptomatic ischemia during everyday activities, detected by Holter monitoring, in the high-risk patient, most probably adds additional risk beyond the risk of an abnormal stress test alone. Left ventricular imaging by two-dimensional echocardiography, RNA, angiogram, vest, etc, showing an ejection fraction > or = 40%, reversible wall motion abnormalities in multiple regions and redistribution defects or a failure to increase ejection fraction during exercise even if the patient remains asymptomatic, also imply high risk. The presence of any of these abnormal findings, regardless of symptoms, should therefore prompt as high a degree of concern as with ischemia-related signals associated with pain. Thus any therapy chosen should be directed toward elimination of transient ischemia, not just relief of symptoms that may or may not be ischemia related. If this course is chosen, the efficacy of the therapeutic regimen and possible progression of CAD should be assessed with follow-up testing for ischemia. We believe that risk factor modification and aspirin should be considered for most, if not all, patients in whom ischemia, silent or symptomatic, is suspected or detected. If symptoms or ischemia suggesting low risk is present, anti-ischemic medical therapy may be considered, but follow-up is advised. If a high-risk ischemic signal, even without symptoms, is detected, medical therapy should be used to attempt to modify the signal. If the ischemic signal suggesting high risk persists despite medical therapy, revascularization should be considered. Until additional data from large clinical trials are available, this approach appears to have the greatest likelihood of modifying the adverse outcome of CAD.

Effects of intravenous theophylline on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. I. Impact on the ischemic threshold

OBJECTIVES

Theophylline has been shown to delay the onset of myocardial ischemia and to prolong exercise duration. The present study was done to evaluate the mechanisms and actions of intravenous theophylline on the onset of ischemia and exercise duration.

BACKGROUND

The ischemic threshold may be altered by the differential coronary vasodilation induced by endogenous adenosine. Theophylline is a competitive receptor antagonist of adenosine and may have a potential as an anti-ischemic medication.

METHODS

A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial using an infusion of intravenous theophylline (8.0 +/- 2.0 mg/liter) or placebo before exercise in 12 patients was done. Oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate-blood pressure product were determined at the onset of > or = 0.1-mV ST segment depression and angina pectoris, as well as at peak exercise. The extent of myocardial ischemia was evaluated by electrocardiographic criteria and quantitation of thallium-201 images at peak exercise.

RESULTS

When compared with placebo, theophylline significantly delayed time to the onset of exercise-induced ischemia. Ischemia occurred at a higher heart rate-blood pressure product and oxygen uptake. Exercise duration was prolonged but was not associated with greater ischemia, as determined by oxygen uptake, ST segment depression, angina pectoris and size of thallium-201 defect.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that theophylline favorably alters myocardial ischemia not only by delaying its onset but also by enabling it to occur at a higher threshold without causing deleterious effects during exercise. The mechanism for the increased ischemic threshold may be through the inhibition of adenosine and the coronary steal phenomenon.

Effect of a standardized meal on the threshold of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in patients with stable angina

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of a standardized meal on the ischemic threshold and exercise capacity in a series of 20 patients with stable angina, exercise-induced ischemia and reversible exercise-induced perfusion defects.

BACKGROUND

It is generally accepted that exercise tolerance in patients with angina is reduced after a meal. However, studies that have addressed this phenomenon have yielded results that are contradictory and inconclusive.

METHODS

Two exercise tests using the Bruce protocol with technetium-99m (99mTc)-sestamibi were performed on consecutive days in a randomized order. One test was performed in the fasting state and the other 30 min after a 1,000-calorie meal.

RESULTS

In the postprandial state, exercise time to ischemia was reduced by 20% from 248 +/- 93 s to 197 +/- 87 s (p = 0.0007), time to angina by 15% from 340 +/- 82 s to 287 +/- 94 s (p = 0.002) and exercise tolerance by 9% from 376 +/- 65 s to 344 +/- 86 s (p = 0.002). Rate-pressure products at these exercise test end points were not significantly different in the fasting and postprandial tests, and the quantitative 99mTc-sestamibi ischemia score was unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with stable angina, a 1,000-calorie meal significantly reduced time to ischemia, time to angina and exercise tolerance because of a more rapid increase in myocardial oxygen demand with exercise. The extent and severity of exercise-induced ischemia were unchanged.

New insights into the management of myocardial ischemia

Episodes of ST depression are closely related to transient decreases in regional myocardial perfusion during physical or mental stress. At the onset of these events, there is transient constriction of atherosclerotic stenoses, with an increase in myocardial demand as reflected by increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Recent research has shown that normal epicardial coronary arteries respond to these provocations and to increasing blood flow with progressive vasodilation. In contrast, atherosclerotic vessels lose this ability to dilate and may show paradoxical constriction. This abnormal constriction parallels the response of the arteries to acetylcholine, which can be used to assess the ability of the coronary endothelium to regulate vasodilation. The loss of endothelium-dependent vasodilation appears to be an important functional manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis and a potential triggering mechanism for transient ischemia. Dysfunctional endothelium may also result in a procoagulant surface, with cell adherence and local thrombus formation. Restoration of normal endothelial function is likely to emerge as an important therapeutic objective in the management of myocardial ischemia and coronary atherosclerosis.

Role of myocardial oxygen demand in the pathogenesis of silent ischemia during daily life

The role of myocardial oxygen demand in the pathogenesis of silent ambulatory myocardial ischemia was evaluated by reviewing and assessing the methods and results of recent studies. The performance of simultaneous ambulatory electrocardiographic and blood pressure monitoring in 25 men with proven coronary artery disease (CAD) revealed significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure (p < 0.001) preceding most silent ischemic events. By plotting the mean heart rate obtained at 5-minute intervals during the 30 minutes before an ischemic event, the ischemic heart rate was shown to be significantly higher (95 +/- 15 vs 74 +/- 11 beats per minute [bpm]; p < 0.01) than the nonischemic heart rate. The evaluation of heart rate changes during ambulatory ischemia (in patients with CAD and ischemia induced by an exercise test using gradual work load increments) showed a significant heart rate increase (> 10 bpm) at 1-5 minutes preceding the onset of ST-segment depression. Heart rate increases during exercise testing according to the gradual work load increments of the National Institutes of Health protocol were compared with the heart rate preceding ischemic events during daily life monitored by ambulatory electrocardiography and were found to be closely related. In contrast, heart rate increases that occurred during exercise testing using the standard Bruce protocol were higher and correlated less with those preceding ischemia in daily life. Heart rate and blood pressure increased significantly in most silent ischemic episodes, indicating that increased myocardial oxygen demand plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia during daily life.

Role of increases in heart rate in determining the occurrence and frequency of myocardial ischemia during daily life in patients with stable coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to investigate the role of increases in heart rate in the development of ischemic episodes recorded during ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring in patients with stable coronary artery disease and to establish the importance of such increases in determining the frequency of ambulatory myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND

The factors that determine the occurrence and frequency of episodes of myocardial ischemia that patients with stable coronary artery disease experience during daily life have not been clearly defined. In particular, the role of increases in heart rate in the development of myocardial ischemia is controversial.

METHODS

To address these issues, 54 patients (42 men and 12 women, mean age 60.5 +/- 8 years) with proved coronary artery disease who had > or = 1 mm ST segment depression during exercise testing underwent an exercise treadmill test with use of the National Institutes of Health combined protocol and a 48-h period of ambulatory ECG monitoring. The exercise ischemic threshold was determined as the heart rate at the onset of ST segment depression during exercise testing.

RESULTS

During monitoring, 48 (89%) of the 54 patients had at least one episode of ST segment depression (mean +/- SD 6.6 +/- 5 episodes, range 0 to 22). The majority (320 of 359 or 89%) of ischemic episodes were preceded by an increase in heart rate > or = 10 beats/min; the most significant increase (22.3 +/- 10 beats/min) occurred during the 5-min period before the onset of the episode. An ischemic episode occurred 80% of the times the heart rate reached the exercise ischemic threshold. A strong correlation was observed between the number of times the exercise ischemic threshold was reached during monitoring and both the number and the duration of ischemic episodes (r = 0.90 and 0.71, respectively, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in heart rate that exceed the exercise ischemic threshold are commonly observed before the onset of episodes of ambulatory myocardial ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Moreover, such increases constitute an important determinant of the frequency of myocardial ischemia during daily life. These findings may explain the variability observed in the number of ischemic episodes and may have important implications for the mechanisms that contribute to myocardial ischemia in daily life and for the clinical evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease.

Comparison of chest pain, electrocardiographic changes and thallium-201 scintigraphy during varying exercise intensities in men with stable angina pectoris

This study was performed to evaluate the presence of angina pectoris, electrocardiographic changes and reversible thallium-201 defects resulting from 2 different levels of exercise in 19 patients with known coronary artery disease and evidence of exercise-induced ischemia. The exercise protocols consisted of a symptom-limited incremental exercise test (Bruce protocol) followed within 3 to 14 days by a submaximal, steady-state exercise test performed at 70% of the maximal heart rate achieved during the Bruce protocol. The presence and time of onset of angina and electrocardiographic changes (greater than or equal to 0.1 mV ST-segment depression) as well as oxygen uptake, exercise duration and pressure-rate product were recorded. Thallium-201 (2.5 to 3.0 mCi) was injected during the last minute of exercise during both protocols, and the images were analyzed using both computer-assisted quantitation and visual interpretations. Incremental exercise resulted in anginal symptoms in 84% of patients, and electrocardiographic changes and reversible thallium-201 defects in all patients. In contrast, submaximal exercise produced anginal symptoms in only 26% (p less than 0.01) and electrocardiographic changes in only 47% (p less than 0.05), but resulted in thallium-201 defects in 89% of patients (p = not significant). The locations of the thallium-201 defects, when present, were not different between the 2 exercise protocols. These findings confirm the sequence of the ischemic cascade using 2 levels of exercise and demonstrate that the cascade theory is applicable during varying ischemic intensities in the same patient.

Effect of beta-blockade on low heart rate-related ischemia during mental stress

To explore the effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on low heart rate-related (mental stress) ischemia, 19 patients with coronary artery disease were randomized into a double-blind crossover trial of metoprolol, 100 mg twice daily, and underwent serial mental stress/bicycle exercise studies. Mental stress-induced wall motion abnormalities occurred at a lower heart rate than exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities during placebo administration (81 +/- 16 vs. 123 +/- 20 beats/min, p less than 0.05). Metoprolol reduced the mean magnitude of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities (2.8 +/- 2.0 vs. 1.6 +/- 2.4, p = 0.003); improvement was related to the magnitude of hemodynamic beta-blockade effect. Metoprolol did not significantly reduce the mean magnitude of mental stress-induced wall motion abnormalities (3.0 +/- 2.2 vs. 2.6 +/- 2.2), although individual responses predominantly either improved (50%) or worsened (29%). Unlike exercise, the magnitude of hemodynamic beta-blockade did not predict mental stress response and metoprolol did not block mental stress-induced blood pressure elevations. Patients with abolition of exercise-induced ischemia were more likely to have reduction of mental stress-induced ischemia. Patients whose ischemia worsened with metoprolol during mental stress had more easily inducible ischemia, as assessed by exercise-induced placebo wall motion abnormality, chest pain and prior myocardial infarction. Beta-blockade was associated with a lowering of ischemia-related hemodynamic thresholds compared with placebo. These results suggest that beta-blockade has a variable effect on low heart rate-related ischemia that may be due to a lack of effect on mental stress-induced blood pressure elevation in patients with easily induced ischemia or to effects on coronary vasomotor tone, or both.