Is vitamin C superior to diltiazem for radial artery vasodilation in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting?
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to measure the vasodilating effects of vitamin C on the radial arteries of healthy subjects and to assess whether vitamin C is superior in this regard to diltiazem, a commonly used vasodilator in coronary artery bypass using radial conduits. METHODS: In a case-control study (study 1) oral single-dose vitamin C (2 g) was given to 15 healthy nonsmokers and 15 matched otherwise healthy smokers. In a randomized double-blind study (study 2) oral single-dose vitamin C (2 g, n = 15) and diltiazem (180 mg, n = 15) were compared in preoperative patients with coronary artery disease. We examined the dilation of the radial artery with high-resolution ultrasonography and measurement of the lumen surface and color Doppler images of the nondominant radial artery just before and 2 hours after drug administration. RESULTS: In study 1 both smokers and nonsmokers showed a significant increase in the lumen surface at 2 hours compared with at baseline (P <.001 and P =.013, respectivel
Related Questions
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- Is vitamin C superior to diltiazem for radial artery vasodilation in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting?
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