Evaluation of the brachial artery endothelial function in chronic alcohol consumption among males by high-frequency ultrasonography.

Abstract

There is evidence suggesting that different volumes of chronic alcohol consumption have different effects on the endothelium. Therefore, using high-frequency ultrasonography, we evaluate the effects of the different volume and duration of alcohol intake on brachial artery endothelial function in chronic drinkers. Ninety-two male chronic episodic alcoholics were grouped by alcohol intake amount and duration: mild (group B, n=30); ≤90mg ethanol daily, 3-5days/wk for 5-8years; moderate (group C, n=30); 90-150mg ethanol daily, 3-5days/wk for 9-20years; and severe (group D, n=32); ≥150mg ethanol daily, 6-7days/wk for more than 10years. Thirty male nondrinkers were recruited as the control group A. High-frequency ultrasonography was used to measure brachial artery diameter during rest, during reactive hyperemia and following the administration of nitroglycerin. Endothelial-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and endothelial-independent brachial artery nitrate-mediated dilatation (NMD) were calculated. Flow-mediated dilatation values for group C and D were significantly lower than those for group A and B (VC =7.63±0.22, VD =5.85±0.23 vs VA =13.35±0.35, VB =12.81±0.36, P<.01). The FMD of group D was significantly lower than that of group C (P<.01). Meanwhile, the NMD of group D was significantly lower than that of the other groups (VD =17.33±6.21 vs VA =25.35±7.42, VB =24.52±8.30, VC =23.35±7.27, P<.01). Chronic moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption caused endothelial dysfunction, even damaging vascular smooth muscle cells in cases of heavy alcohol consumption, while abstinence and chronic mild alcoholics caused no effect on endothelial function.