Stronger vasoconstrictor response to aspirate from patients undergoing stent implantation into native coronary arteries than into saphenous vein grafts

Abstract

BackgroundStent implantation into atherosclerotic coronary arteries releases particulate debris and soluble substances which contribute to impaired microvascular perfusion.MethodsUsing a distal protection/aspiration device, arterial blood was retrieved during stent implantation in 19 patients with a stenosis in native coronary arteries (NA) and in 20 patients with a saphenous vein graft (SVG) stenosis. The constrictor response of rat coronary and mesenteric arteries to aspirate was quantified in a myograph as isometric force development (mN).ResultsAt 80 mmHg, the diameter was 250±28 μm for coronary and 186±16 μm for mesenteric arteries. The KCl (120mM) ‐ induced maximal vasoconstriction was comparable for coronary and mesenteric arteries (6.1±2.3 mN vs. 7.1±1.4 mN; NS). The vasoconstriction provoked by aspirate was greater in coronary than in mesenteric arteries. Aspirate released during stent implantation into NA induced a stronger vasoconstriction than that into SVG (coronary: NA 6.9±0.8*†, SVG 5.2±0.7†, mesenteric: NA 5.6±0.9*, SVG 4.2±0.5 mN; *p<0.05 NA vs. SVG, †p<0.05 coronary vs. mesenteric arteries).ConclusionHuman coronary aspirate released during stenting of NA has a stronger vasoconstrictor potential than that from SVG. The vasoconstrictor response to human coronary aspirate is more profound in rat coronary than in mesenteric arteries.