Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide is a potent regulator of vascular tone. In the present
study the authors investigated plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like
immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) during maximum bicycle exercise in 8 patients with coronary
heart disease (CHD) and in a control group of 11 healthy volunteers. There was no
significant difference in CGRP-LI baseline concentrations between patients with CHD
and controls. During exercise a significant increase in CGRP-LI was observed in both
groups, as compared with baseline values. Although maximum CGRP-LI values did not
differ significantly between the two groups, the increase in CGRP-LI was found at
a much-lower work load (p = 0.0006) in patients with CHD.
The results suggest that CGRP-LI is involved in the regulation of vascular tone during
physical exercise in humans.