Atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries can limit blood flow to the myocardial regions supplied by the affected vessels. In some patients, certain medications can cause a redistribution of blood flow away from the ischemic areas, exacerbating existing myocardial ischemia. Which of the following drug effects is most likely to produce this phenomenon?

Question

Atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries can limit blood flow to the myocardial regions supplied by the affected vessels. In some patients, certain medications can cause a redistribution of blood flow away from the ischemic areas, exacerbating existing myocardial ischemia. Which of the following drug effects is most likely to produce this phenomenon?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Increases in resting blood flow to ischemic myocardium are primarily mediated by locally-acting substances (eg, adenosine, nitric oxide) that trigger coronary arteriolar vasodilation.  Pharmacologic arteriolar vasodilators (eg, adenosine, dipyridamole) mimic the vasodilation that occurs with exercise and may cause redistribution of blood flow from ischemic to nonischemic areas of myocardium (ie, coronary steal).

Atherosclerotic Lesions of the Coronary Arteries Can Limit Blood Flow