Comparison of the Endothelial Function between Healthy Subjects and Patients with Coronary Artery Disease or Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lower limit of the normal endothelial function, which may differentiate normal from abnormal values, and to evaluate changes of endothelial function according to ages. Materials and Methods:The study population were consisted of four groups:patients with coronary artery disease (CAD (group A, n=42, mean age:55 yrs, patients with one or more risk factors of atherosc- lerosis (group B, n=43, mean age:54 yrs, age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (group C, n=25, mean age:54 yrs), and healthy young subjects (group D, n=13, mean age:26 yrs. We measured the flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation (FMD of the brachial artery in all subjects using a high-resolution ultrasound and we analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC curve. Results:The FMD of the A and B groups were significantly lowered (8.6±3.7% vs 9.9±4/5% (4.5% ? than the C (14.3±3.3%, p<0.001 or D groups (18.0±3.5%, p<0.001. The FMD level of 11.5% demonstrated a 76.3% sensitivity and 76% of specificity to differentiate normal endothelial function from abnormal one. The spearman correlation coefficient between age and FMD in groups C and D was -0.543 (p<0.001. Conclusions:Endothelial function was decreased in patients with CAD or risk factors of atherosclerosis. We observed an age-related tendency of a decline of endothelial function in healthy subjects. 11.5% FMD may be used to identify the person at risk of atherosclerosis. (Korean Circulation J 2001;31(6 :544-550