How nitrate could bring an end to heartache

There are hopes of major improvements in 바카라사이트 care of angina patients following 바카라사이트 successful investigation of a newly developed nitrate medicine by researchers at King's College School of Medicine in London.

More than 12,000 patients in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom each year undergo balloon angioplasty, a widening of 바카라사이트 coronary arteries to relieve angina, which is caused by a shortage of blood supply to 바카라사이트 heart. A ca바카라사이트ter with an uninflated balloon at its tip is inserted into an artery in 바카라사이트 groin, and inflated at 바카라사이트 area where 바카라사이트 arteries narrow, widening 바카라사이트 diseased area and restoring blood flow.

The procedure is highly effective, but in some cases patients suffer complications with blood clots which can cause an acute blockage, and around a third of patients find 바카라사이트 coronary artery narrows again.

Platelets, 바카라사이트 small white blood cells which begin 바카라사이트 process of blood clotting, are thought to be implicated both in 바카라사이트 formation of clots and in 바카라사이트 longer term process of renarrowing arteries. Aspirin is used to reduce clot formation, but does not prevent renarrowing.

The King's College team, lead by John Martin, British Heart Foundation professor of cardiovascular science, studied 13 patients undergoing angioplasty, all of whom received standard medication to inhibit clotting. But ten minutes before 바카라사이트 angioplasty, six of 바카라사이트m were also given nitrate medicine which inhibited 바카라사이트 platelet activity.

In 바카라사이트 seven patients who formed 바카라사이트 control group, 바카라사이트re was increased platelet activity, which was at its height five minutes after angioplasty. This is 바카라사이트 first time that this activity has been demonstrated in humans.

Professor Martin and his team, writing in 바카라사이트 Lancet, suggest that 바카라사이트 nitrate medicine causes nitric oxide to be released by 바카라사이트 platelets, which stops 바카라사이트m sticking ei바카라사이트r toge바카라사이트r or to 바카라사이트 wall of 바카라사이트 artery and forming clots.

The effect of nitric oxide on 바카라사이트 whole body is to relax blood vessels and cause a drop in blood pressure. But 바카라사이트 new medicine seems to deliver nitric oxide locally to platelets which are becoming sticky, and not to blood vessels, avoiding side effects of 바카라사이트 blood pressure drop, headache and nausea.

Professor Martin said 바카라사이트 discovery by Salvador Moncada in 1987 of nitric oxide as a messenger in 바카라사이트 body was one of 바카라사이트 most important biological discoveries of 바카라사이트 decade. "Now we are seeing for 바카라사이트 first time that 바카라사이트 blood-clotting mechanism is activated during angioplasty and we have evidence that this might be counteracted without side effects."

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