Influence of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on cardiac release of endothelin, neuropeptide Y and noradrenaline

In the present study, the cardiac outflow of endothelin, noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y was investigated in 13 patients undergoing first time coronary angioplasty (PTCA) due to stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery. During PTCA there was an increase in the coronary sinus levels of endothelin but no detectable changes in neuropeptide Y or noradrenaline concentrations. It is therefore concluded that endothelial damage rather than myocardial ischaemia is the cause of endothelin release during PTCA.