Plasma thromboxane B2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha and cyclic nucleotides levels as related to treadmill exercise test in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Abstract

Plasma prostanoids and levels of cyclic nucleotides were studied in forty-nine outpatients with precordial pains and subjected to the treadmill exercise test. Blood samples were drawn before, immediately after and 30 minutes after exercise, from antecubital veins. Plasma TXB2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The results of exercise tests were evaluated according to the treadmill exercise score (TES) of Hollenberg et al. Patients were divided into two groups; those with TES (-) with ischemic findings in exercise and those with TES (+) with normal exercise response. There were no differences in TXB2 levels between the two groups before exercise. Immediately after exercise statistically significant differences in TXB2 levels were present between the two groups. There were increased levels in the TES (-) group and decreased levels in the TES (+) group (p less than 0.01). Although the 6-keto PGF1 alpha levels were the same between the two groups before exercise, 6-keto PGF1 alpha levels in the TES (+) group increased significantly immediately after exercise. Similar changes were noted in the case of cyclic nucleotides, and the differences increased immediately after exercise. We conclude that high responses of cyclic nucleotides and PGI2 are required to counteract increases in levels of TXA2 and diminution of these responses may be an important phenomenon involved in the physiological status of ischemic heart disease.