Effects of intravenous bolus injection of nicorandil on renal artery flow velocity assessed by color Doppler ultrasound

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious animal studies have shown that a potassium channel opener, nicorandil, provokes vasodilation in renal microvasculature and increases renal blood flow. We conducted a clinical study that aimed to evaluate the effect of nicorandil on renal artery blood flow in comparison with nitroglycerin by using color Doppler ultrasound. MethodsThe present study enrolled 40 patients with stable coronary artery disease who had no renal arterial stenosis and renal parenchymal disease. The patients received intravenous administration of nicorandil (n=20) or nitroglycerin (n=20). Before and after the administration, renal artery blood flow velocity was measured by color-guided pulsed-wave Doppler. ResultsThe peak-systolic, end-diastolic, and mean renal artery blood flow velocities before the administration were not different between the nicorandil group and the nitroglycerin group. The peak-systolic (79±15cm/s to 99±21cm/s, p<0.001; and 78±19cm/s to 85±19cm/s, p=0.004), end-diastolic (22±5cm/s to 28±8cm/s, p<0.001; and 24±6cm/s to 26±6cm/s, p=0.005) and mean (41±6cm/s to 49±9cm/s, p<0.001; and 43±9cm/s to 45±9cm/s, p=0.009) renal artery flow velocities increased significantly in either group. The nominal changes in the peak-systolic (20±10cm/s vs. 7±8cm/s, p<0.001), end-diastolic (5±4cm/s vs. 2±3cm/s, p=0.001), and mean (8±5cm/s vs. 2±2cm/s, p<0.001) renal artery blood flow velocities were significantly greater in the nicorandil group compared with the nitroglycerin group. ConclusionIntravenous nicorandil increased renal artery blood flow velocity in comparison with nitroglycerin. Nicorandil has a significant effect on renal hemodynamics.