Effects of intense exercise training on plasma catecholamines in coronary patients

¹ Section of Applied Physiology and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, and Irene Walter Johnson Institute of Rehabilitation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

This paper reports the effect of 12 mo of intense endurance exercise training on the plasma catecholamine response to exercise in 11 male patients [aged 50 ± 8 yr (mean ± SD)] with coronary artery disease. A substantial adaptation to training was attained as evidenced by a 42% increase in maximum O₂ uptake capacity. At rest, heart rate was lower after training, but resting blood pressure and plasma catecholamines were unchanged. At the same absolute work rate, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels, rate pressure product, and ischemic S-T segment depression were all significantly lower after training. A higher plasma norepinephrine level was attained at maximal exercise after training (2,049 ± 654 before vs. 3,408 ± 1,454 pg/ml after, P < 0.025); this was associated with a higher systolic blood pressure (175 ± 25 before vs. 188 ± 22 mmHg after, P < 0.025) and a higher rate-pressure product (25.3 x 10³ ± 4.5 x 10³ before vs. 27.6 x 10³ ± 5.2 x 10³ after, P < 0.025). Despite the higher plasma norepinephrine level and rate pressure product, S-T segment depression at maximal exercise was unchanged. These findings suggest that some patients with coronary arterial disease can attain a higher myocardial O₂ requirement, without electrocardiographic evidence of increased ischemia, after prolonged strenuous exercise training.

Submitted on July 5, 1983
Accepted on January 27, 1984