Assessment of Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Young Healthy Smokers Using 3T Phase Contrast Cine MRI and Cold Pressor Test

Shingo Kato¹, Hajime Sakuma¹, Kakuya Kitagawa¹, Motonori Nagata¹, Yeonyee. E Yoon¹, Shinichi Takase¹

Blood flow volumes in the LAD artery and in coronary sinus (CS) at rest and during cold pressor test were quantified in 10 young non-smokers and 6 age-matched smokers using 3T MR imager. Coronary flow was significantly augmented during CPT in non-smokers (LAD: 28.5 6.8mL/min to 36.5 7.3mL/min, p=0.017). However, the CPT/rest coronary flow ratio was significantly reduced in smokers when compared with non-smokers (0.86 0.26 vs 1.33 0.38, p=0.02). CPT test using 3T MR imager allows for non-invasive assessment of coronary endothelial dysfunction.