Effect of fasudil on the vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary slow flow

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of fasudil on vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary slow flow(CSF). Methods Eighty-two patients with CSF and normal coronary angiography were selected and randomly divided into conventional treatment group and fasudil group, 41 cases in each group.Patients in conventional treatment group were given conventional treatment(aspirin, nitrates and atorvastatin), while patients in the fasudil group were given fasudil on the basis of conventional treatment.The angina pectoris, TIMI, endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD), the levels of plasma nitric oxide(NO), endothelin-1(ET-1) and Rho kinase(ROCKI) of the brachial artery were observed in the two groups before and after two weeks of treatment. Results The total effective rate of fasudil group was 87.80%, higher than that of conventional treatment group of 65.85%, the difference was significant(χ2=68.176, P<0.05). TIMI, FMD improved in the fasudil group after treatment compared with before treatment, the difference was significant(t=4.37, 4.43; P<0.05); plasma NO level increased compared with before treatment(t=5.63, P<0.01), while ROCKI, ET-1 level decreased(t=6.19, 5.66; P<0.01). Plasma NO, ET-1, ROCKI and FMD, TIMI of conventional treatment had no significantly changes before and after treatment(P<0.05). The post-treatment of NO, FMD, TIMI levels in fasudil group were significantly increased compared with conventional group((36.17±7.64) μmol/L vs.(24.99±8.96) μmol/L, (9.96±1.76)% vs.(5.86±1.45)%, 17.53±5.81 vs.29.71±7.83; t=4.06, 4.18, 5.41; P<0.05), while ROCKI, ET-1 levels in fasudil group were significantly decreased compared with conventional group((19.57±1.33) μg/L vs.(34.38±1.51) μg/L, (14.36±6.05) ng/L vs.(20.95±6.57) ng/L; t=3.87, 4.36, P<0.01). Conclusion Fasudil can significantly improve the vascular endothelial function in patients with CSF. Key words: Coronary slow flow; Fasudil; Nitric oxide; Endothelin-1; Endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation