Arterial and coronary sinus catecholamines and cyclic-AMP during dynamic supine exercise in patients with chest pain.

Arterial and coronary sinus catecholamine concentrations were measured during dynamic exercise in patients to assess the sympathetic response. Arterial concentrations increased from 1.77 nmol/1 (SEM = 0.53, n = 7) (control) to 2.95 nmol/1 (SEM = 0.65, n = 7) during exercise (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.01) and coronary sinus concentrations from 2.78 nmol/1 (SEM = 0.53, n = 7) (control) to 4.43 nmol/1 (SEM = 0.71, n = 7) (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.01). Resting, and exercise, arterial-coronary sinus differences in catecholamine concentrations were not statistically significant. In some patients, higher catecholamine concentrations occurred post-exercise than during exercise. The coronary sinus-arterial difference in catecholamine concentration during exercise was greatest in the one patient who developed angina pectoris. Cyclic-AMP concentrations were also measured, but these did not change significantly, consistent with the predominantly noradrenaline response to exercise.