Abstract
Background
In humans, it is not known whether physical endurance exercise training promotes coronary collateral growth. The following hypotheses were tested: the expected collateral flow reduction after percutaneous coronary intervention of a stenotic lesion is prevented by endurance exercise training; collateral flow supplied to an angiographically normal coronary artery improves in response to exercise training; there is a direct relationship between the change of fitness after training and the coronary collateral flow change.
Methods and results
Forty patients (age 61 ± 8 years) underwent a 3-month endurance exercise training program with baseline and follow-up assessments of coronary collateral flow. Patients were divided into an exercise training group (n = 24) and a sedentary group (n = 16) according to the fact whether they adhered or not to the prescribed exercise program, and whether or not they showed increased endurance (V
Conclusion
A 3-month endurance exercise training program augments coronary collateral supply to normal vessels, and even to previously stenotic arteries having undergone percutaneous coronary intervention before initiating the program. There appears to be a dose–response relation between coronary collateral flow augmentation and exercise capacity gained.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.