Impaired effect of endothelin-1 on coronary artery stiffness in type 2 diabetes.

Aim: We examined whether there is a differential effect of endothelin-A antagonism on coronary artery compliance in type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to non-diabetic patients.

Patient And Methods: We examined 32 patients, 11 type 2 diabetes mellitus and 21 non-diabetic patients, with atherosclerotic epicardial arteries free of significant luminal stenoses. Intracoronary BQ-123 (6 micromol), an endothelin-A receptor antagonist, was infused over 20 min.