MYOCARDIAL TURNOVER OF ENDOGENOUS OPIOIDS AND CALCITONIN-GENE-RELATEDPEPTIDE IN THE HUMAN HEART AND THE EFFECTS OF SPINAL-CORD STIMULATIONON PACING-INDUCED ANGINA-PECTORIS

Earlier studies have shown that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has anti anginal and anti-ischemic effects in severe coronary artery disease. I n the present study, 14 patients were subjected to right-sided atrial catheterization and atrial pacing. The patients were paced to angina d uring a control session and during spinal cord stimulation. Myocardial extraction of beta-endorphin (BE) during control pacing (8 +/- 22%) c hanged to release at the maximum pacing rate during treatment (-21 +/- 47%), a negative value representing release). Furthermore, the result s indicate local myocardial turnover of leuenkephalin, BE and calciton in-gene-related peptide. In addition, it is implied that SCS may induc e myocardial release of BE which could explain the beneficial effects in myocardial ischemia.