Flow-Mediated Vasodilation was Found to be an Independent Predictor of Changes in the Carotid Plaque Status During a 5-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

It has previously been shown that flow-mediated vasodilation is a predictor of the progression of the intima-media thickness (IMT). In the present study, the degree of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in both resistance and conduit arteries was evaluated as a predictor of the IMT and plaque progression. In the population-based Prospective Study of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors(PIVUS) trial(1,016 subjects all 70 years of age), the invasive forearm technique using acetylcholine administered in the brachial artery (resistance artery, EDV) and the brachial artery ultrasound technique with measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (conduit artery, FMD) were evaluated. The IMT and number of carotid arteries with plaques (0, 1 or 2) were recorded using ultrasound at the baseline investigation and the follow-up visit conducted five years later. A total of 760 subjects had valid measurements of the IMT and carotid artery plaques at both the investigations conducted at 70 and 75 years of age. Neither the FMD nor EDV significantly predicted the change in IMT over five years. However, the FMD, but not EDV, was associated with the change in carotid plaque burden during the follow-up period, independent of classical risk factors, such as gender, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, serum triglycerides, BMI and smoking (OR 0.81 for a 1 SD change in FMD, 95%CI 0.68 to 0.95, p=0.010). The FMD was found to be a predictor of changes in the carotid plaque status, but not IMT, during the 5-year follow-up period, independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors.