PARASYMPATHETIC TONE AFFECTS ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PRECONDITIONING DURING RIGHT CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

We investigated whether parasympathetic tone may affect ischemic preco nditioning in terms of ST segment alteration during coronary angioplas ty. Coronary balloon angioplasty was performed in 19 patients with ang ina and isolated right coronary artery disease. Parasympathetic tone w as assessed by frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability u sing 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings obtained before angioplas ty. Logistic regression analysis showed the high frequency component t o be an independent predictor of the change in ST elevation induced by the second balloon inflation, hn increase in parasympathetic tone was related to ischemic preconditioning with respect to the electrocardio graphic alterations observed in these patients.