Objectives: To assess the possible influence of white-coat hypertension (WCH) on coronary flow reserve (CFR).
Methods: CFR was measured by means of transthoracic second harmonic Doppler echocardiography in 29 patients with WCH, 32 patients with sustained hypertension and 35 healthy volunteers.
Results: CFR was significantly lower in the sustained hypertension group than in the WCH and the control groups, but it was not different between the WCH and the control groups (2.40 (SD 0.54), 2.77 (0.41) and 2.83 (0.60), respectively).
Conclusion: CFR is preserved in patients with WCH.