M. Imamura et al., Repeated thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors, J AM COL C, 38(4), 2001, pp. 1083-1088
Citations number
60
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
OBJECTIVES We sought to determine whether sauna therapy, a thermal vasodila
tion therapy, improves endothelial function in patients with coronary risk
factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and s
moking.
BACKGROUND Exposure to heat is widely used as a traditional therapy in many
different cultures. We have recently found that repeated sauna therapy imp
roves endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failu
re.
METHODS Twenty-five men with at least one coronary risk factor (risk group:
38 +/- 7 years) and 10 healthy men without coronary risk factors (control
group: 35 +/- 8 years) were enrolled. Patients in the risk group were treat
ed with a 60 degreesC far infrared-ray dry sauna bath for 15 min and then k
ept in a bed covered with blankets for 30 min once a day for two weeks. To
assess endothelial function, brachial artery diameter was measured at rest,
during reactive hyperemia (flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation [%
FMD]), again at rest and after sublingual nitroglycerin administration (end
othelium-independent vasodilation [%NTG]) using high-resolution ultrasound.
RESULTS The %FMD was significantly impaired in the risk group compared with
the control group (4.0 +/- 1.7% vs. 9.2 2.7%, p < 0.0001), while %NTG was
similar (18.7 +/- 4.2% vs. 20.4 +/- 5.1%). Two weeks of sauna therapy signi
ficantly improved %FMD in the risk group (4.0 +/- 1.7% to 5.8 +/- 1.3%, p <
0.001). In contrast, %NTG did not change after two weeks of sauna therapy
(18.7 4.2% to 18.1 +/- 4.1%).
CONCLUSIONS Repeated sauna treatment improves impaired vascular endothelial
function in the setting of coronary risk factors, suggesting a therapeutic
role for sauna treatment in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis
. (C) 2001 by the American College of Cardiology.