Enhanced Rho-Kinase Activity in Patients With Vasospastic Angina After the Great East Japan Earthquake

抄録

Background: It remains unclear whether disease activity of vasospastic angina (VSA) is altered during a disaster. Methods and Results: Before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake, we examined Rho-kinase activity in circulating neutrophils of 11 VSA patients and their mental stress with the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) questionnaire. Rho-kinase activity was significantly increased at 6 months after the Earthquake, and was returned to baseline level at 12 months. Importantly, percent change in Rho-kinase activity was significantly correlated with the PTSD score. Conclusions: These results indicate that the Rho-kinase activity of VSA patients was transiently enhanced associated with disaster-related mental stress.  (Circ J 2012; 76: 2892–2894)