Brachial Artery In Patients Research Articles

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the brachial artery in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a case series and literature review.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is diagnosed in a very small percentage of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes who undergo emergency coronary angiography. Although fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is known to coexist in patients with SCAD, the vascular sites of FMD and their frequency have not yet been clarified. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 patients who were diagnosed with and treated for SCAD at our hospital between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2023. We have summarized their baseline and clinical characteristics and medical variables, including coronary and upper extremity angiography and in-hospital outcomes. One of our patients had concurrent cardiac tamponade requiring pericardial drainage, and another went into hemorrhage shock the following day from dissection of the gastric retroperitoneal artery. Characteristic angiographic features of partial or diffuse nonatherosclerotic stenosis were observed mainly in the distal parts of the coronary arteries or their branches. Notably, in six patients with SCAD who underwent upper extremity angiography, FMD of the brachial artery was revealed. For the first time, to our knowledge, we found a high prevalence of multifocal FMD of the brachial artery in patients with SCAD.

Flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in patients with obesity after COVID-19

Background and Aims : Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and its complications. The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of obesity to the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction as one of the risk factors of a more severe disease.

Comparison of the radial and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in patients with hypertension.

Blood flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a noninvasive assessment of vascular endothelial function in humans. The study of the FMD in hypertensive (HT) patients is an important factor supporting the recognition of the early mechanisms of cardiovascular pathologies, and also of the pathogenesis related to hypertension. To investigate whether FMD measured on the radial artery (FMD-RA) using high-frequency ultrasounds can be used as an alternative to FMD assessed with the lower frequency system on the brachial artery in patients with HT. The simultaneous measurements of FMD-RA and FMD measurements in the brachial artery (FMD-BA) were performed on 76 HT patients using 20 MHz and 7-12 MHz linear array probes, and were compared to the FMD measured in healthy groups. All quantitative data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD); the p-values of the normality and tests for variables comparisons are listed. The agreement of the FMD-RA and FMD-BA in HT patients was assessed with the Bland-Altman method, and using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). In some statistical calculations, the FMD-RA values were rescaled by dividing them by a factor of 2. The mean FMD-RA and FMD-BA in HT patients were 5.16 ±2.18% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): [4.50%, 5.82%]) and 2.13 ±1.12% (95% CI: [1.76%, 2.49%]), respectively. The FMD-RA and FMD-BA values of HT patients were significantly different than those in respective control groups. The p-values of Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests were less than 0.05. The Bland-Altman coefficient for both measurement methods, FMD-RA and FMD-BA, was 3%, and the ICC was 0.69. Our findings show that FMD-RA, supplementary to FMD-BA measurements, can be used to assess endothelial dysfunction in the group of HT patients. In addition, the FMD-RA measurements met the criteria of high concordance with the FMD-BA measurements.

Endothelial dysfunction in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with low cardiac disease risk

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. We prospectively evaluated endothelial function by assessing flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. This prospective study included 139 patients (50 healthy controls, 47 patients with steatosis and 42 patients with steatohepatitis), all of whom were nondiabetic. Patients with long-standing or uncontrolled hypertension, smokers, and morbidly obese patients were excluded. The medians (ranges) for vascular FMD in the steatohepatitis, steatosis, and control groups were 6% (0–37.5%), 10.8% (0–40%) and 13.6% (0–50%), respectively. The control group had a higher average FMD than the NAFLD group (15.13% vs 10.46%), and statistical significance was reached when the control and steatohepatitis groups were compared (13.6% vs 6%, p = 0.027). Average alanine aminotransferase was significantly higher in the steatohepatitis group than in the steatosis and control groups (54 (U/L) vs 31 (U/L), p = 0.008). Cholesterol levels were similar between all groups. In the multivariate analysis, FMD (OR = 0.85, p = 0.035) and high triglycerides (OR = 76.4, p = 0.009) were significant predictors of steatohepatitis. In the absence of major cardiac risk factors, we demonstrated better endothelial function in healthy controls, evidenced by a higher FMD of the brachial artery than that of patients with steatohepatitis.

Daily indices of central and peripheral blood pressure in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and arterial hypertension at different stages of chronic kidney disease

Aim. To study the daily indices of central and peripheral blood pressure in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and arterial hypertension at different stages of chronic kidney disease.
 Methods. 76 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and arterial hypertension were examined: 13.2% with chronic kidney disease stage 1 (G1), 15.8% G2, 21.0% G3, 23.7% G4, 26.3% G5D. For the daily monitoring of central (in aorta) and peripheral blood pressure (in brachial artery), the BPLab monitor and the Vasotens-24 technology were used.
 Results. In the examined patients central and peripheral systolic, diastolic, and pulse blood pressure increased with renal function decline. Thus, the daily systolic pressure increased from 112 [107; 129] mm Hg in the aorta and 127 [118; 131] mm Hg in the brachial artery in patients with G1 to 146 [137; 153] and 147 [138; 155] mm Hg with G5D; diastolic — from 76 [70; 83] and 78 [71; 85] to 96 [82; 104] and 97 [81; 107] mm Hg; pulse pressure — from 36 [33; 45] and 48 [42; 51] to 53 [45; 56] and 62 [50; 65] mm Hg (p <0.05). A statistically significant excess of peripheral values over the corresponding parameters of central blood pressure for systolic (in groups G1–2) and pulse (G1–4) pressure was detected. Thus, in patients with G2, the average daily systolic pressure was 132 [115; 136] mm Hg in brachial artery and 113 [110; 127] mm Hg in aorta, pulse pressure — 49 [41; 52] and 33 [30; 41] mm Hg (p <0.05). With further progression of renal failure, these differences were not reliably detected. Most patients had a defect of the daily aortic and brachial blood pressure rhythm but the dipper status of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was less common than brachial one (24 and 20% versus 39 and 35%, χ2=5.21 and 5.64; p <0.05).
 Conclusion. The features of the peripheral and central blood pressure daily indices at different stages of chronic kidney disease in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and arterial hypertension determine the relevance of their further study to compare the effect on cardiovascular risk and renal failure progression.

The pathogenetic role of the nitric oxide system and its metabolites in the development and progression of chronic heart failure

Aim: to study the activity of eNOS, the concentration of L‑arginine and stable nitric oxide metabolites, as well as the degree of endothelium dependent vasodilation with 5‑minute compression test of the brachial artery in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of ischemic origin depending on L‑arginine administration in the treatment scheme.Material and methods. In the present study were included 303 patients (204 men and 99 women) observed about CHF ischemic genesis. Patients of the main group A+ (101 persons), in addition to the main treatment, took L‑arginine at a dose of 1 g 3 times per day in syrup (Tivortin), the rest of the patients (202 persons) were included in the comparison group А - . As a control group were examined 20 healthy volunteers. The metabolism of NO and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation were studied by determining the activity of eNOS, and concentration of NO2/NO3, determining the level of L‑arginine in the blood, assessment of endothelial function with a compression test. The endothelial function of vessels was judged according to the dopplerography of the brachial artery using the method of Solomon et al.Results. In patients taking arginine were observed additional positive effect on the arginine concentration in the peripheral blood (51,63% against 43,53% in group A, p<0.01). The distribution of the patients according to the status of LV systolic function showed that the effect of additional application of arginine is observed only in patients with low LVEF (69,63% vs 58,32% in the group with low LVEF, p<0.01). Also it was discovered that the use of arginine promotes a significantly greater increase in eNOS activity (11,53% against 4.76 per cent, p<0.001. In comparison with patients within the groups A+ and A —, classified according to the state of LV systolic function, it was found a significantly more pronounced effect of arginine in patients with normal systolic LV function.Conclusions. Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of ischemic origin, with low left ventricle ejection fraction (LV EF), a violation of NO metabolism is noted. Decrease of L‑arginine concentration leads to decrease in endothelial NO-synthase activity, and increase of macrophage NO-synthase activity leads to high concentration of nitric oxide and its stable metabolites in peripheral blood. Endothelial vasomotor dysfunction is associated with decrease of vasodilatation and even paradox vasoconstriction (in our study in 10 patients (3.3%)). Inclusion of L‑arginine to standard therapy of CHF gives additional positive effect on improvement of metabolism of nitric oxide and endothelial vasomotor function.

An Extremely Effective and Safe Approach of Guiding Catheter Crossing over Spasmodic Radial or (and) Brachial Artery in Patients Whose Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Was Undergone via Radial Artery Access

Objective: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the radial artery access has more advantages than that of femoral artery access, while radial or (and) brachial artery have tendency to be spasmodic. We sought to investigate the effectiveness and safety of guiding catheter crossing over spasmodic radial or (and) brachial artery segments by the aid of PCI wire and balloon compared with traditional anti-spasmodic approach. Methods: The clinical data of 168 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (group A), whose PCI was performed via radial artery access with radial or (and) brachial artery spasm or (and) dissection and guiding catheter passing through spasmodic segments successfully by the aid of PCI guiding wire and balloon were analyzed retrospectively, simultaneously, the other 73 patients (group B) who used conventional approach to cross over the spasmodic radial or (and) brachial artery segments were treated as the control. The success rate, the time consumption and the complication were compared between the two groups. Findings: There was no significant difference in the spasmodic site between the two groups (all p value > 0.05). The success rate in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (168(100%) vs 28 (38.4%), p (4.2%) vs 14 (19.2%), p Conclusions: It is more effective and safer for guiding catheter crossing over spasmodic or (and) dissected radial or (and) brachial artery segments by the aid of PCI guiding wire and balloon than using the routine approach of administration of anti-spasm drugs for trans-radial PCI.

Long-term effect of sitagliptin on endothelial function in type 2 diabetes: a sub-analysis of the PROLOGUE study.

BackgroundAs a sub-analysis of the PROLOGUE study, we evaluated the long-term effect of sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, on endothelial function in the conduit brachial artery in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsIn the PROLOGUE study, patients were randomly assigned to either add-on sitagliptin treatment (sitagliptin group) or continued conventional antihyperglycemic treatment (conventional group). Among the 463 participants in the PROLOGUE study, FMD was measured in 17 patients in the sitagliptin group and 18 patients in the conventional group at the beginning and after 12 and 24 months of treatment.ResultsHbA1c levels were significantly decreased after 12 and 24 months of treatment compared to baseline values in both groups (7.0 ± 0.4 vs. 6.6 ± 0.3 and 6.6 ± 0.4 % in the sitagliptin group; 7.0 ± 0.6 vs. 6.6 ± 0.7 and 6.6 ± 0.7 % in the conventional group; P < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between FMD values at baseline and after 12 and 24 months in the sitagliptin group (4.3 ± 2.6 vs. 4.4 ± 2.1 and 4.4 ± 2.3 %, P = 1.0, respectively). Although FMD had a tendency to increase from 4.3 ± 2.4 % at baseline to 5.2 ± 1.9 % after 12 months and 5.1 ± 2.2 % after 24 months in the conventional group, there was no significant difference between FMD values at baseline and after 12 and 24 months (P = 0.36 and 0.33, respectively).ConclusionsAdd-on sitagliptin to conventional antihyperglycemic drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes did not alter endothelial function in the conduit brachial artery measured by FMD during a 2-year study period. Sitagliptin may be used without concern for an adverse effect on endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trial registration: University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center: ID UMIN000004490Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-016-0438-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in coronary and brachial arteries in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

BackgroundNitroglycerine-induced vasodilation, an index of endothelium-independent vasodilation, is measured for the assessment of vascular smooth muscle cell function or alterations of vascular structure. Both coronary and brachial artery responses to nitroglycerine have been demonstrated to be independent prognostic markers of cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in coronary and brachial arteries in the same patients. MethodsWe measured nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in coronary and brachial arteries in 30 subjects with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography (19 men and 11 women; mean age, 69.0±8.8years; age range, 42–85years). Results and conclusionsThe mean values of nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in the brachial artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, and left circumflex coronary artery were 12.6±5.2%, 11.6±10.3%, and 11.9±11.0%, respectively. Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in the brachial artery correlated significantly with that in the left anterior descending coronary artery (r=0.43, P=0.02) and that in the left circumflex coronary artery (r=0.49, P=0.006). There was also a significant correlation between nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in the left anterior descending coronary artery and that in the left circumflex coronary artery (r=0.72, P<0.001). These findings suggest that vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction is a systemic disorder and thus impairment of endothelium-independent vasodilation in peripheral arteries and that in coronary arteries are simultaneously present. Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in the brachial artery could be used as a surrogate for that in a coronary artery and as a prognostic marker for cardiovascular events.

Relationship of levels of Vitamin D with flow-mediated dilatation of brachial artery in patients of myocardial infarction and healthy control: A case-control study.

Background:Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk of adverse CV events. Vitamin D deficiency may be responsible for endothelial dysfunction which in turn affects the onset and progression of coronary artery disease and its risk factors, directly or indirectly through various mechanisms.Materials and Methods:It was case–control study. A total of 50 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (aged 40–60 years), admitted to medicine emergency/CCU, were taken as per ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines. An equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were also taken. Risk factors of AMI, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and 25(OH)D levels were studied in all cases and controls. Correlation was also studied between FMD and 25(OH)D.Results:The mean values of FMD were 18.86 ± 5.39% and 10.35 ± 4.90% in controls and cases, respectively (P < 0.05). The endothelial dilatation after glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) was also studied and was found to be 26.175 ± 4.25% and 18.80 ± 5.72% in controls and cases, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean levels of 25(OH)D in controls and cases were 25.45 ± 12.17 and 14.53 ± 8.28 ng/ml, respectively. In this study, 56% of subjects were Vitamin D deficient, 25% were Vitamin D insufficient, and only 19% had Vitamin D in normal range. A positive correlation coefficient was found between FMD and 25(OH) Vitamin D levels (r = 0.841, P < 0.01). In this study, a positive correlation coefficient was also found between endothelial dilatation after GTN and 25(OH)D levels (r = 0.743, P < 0.01).Conclusion:In this study, it was found that FMD was markedly impaired in patients of AMI when compared to controls. It was also found that majority of the study population was Vitamin D deficient; however, the deficiency was more severe in patients of AMI. We also found out that FMD was positively correlated (r = 0.841) to the deficiency state of Vitamin D in all the study subjects.

Influence of trimetazidine and ranolazine on endothelial function in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Endothelial dysfunction is an independent predictor of atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular events in patients with ischemic heart disease. Ranolazine and trimetazidine are novel drugs that reduce angina symptoms in the above-mentioned patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of ranolazine and trimetazidine on flow-mediated (FMD) and nitroglycerine-induced (GTN) dilation of the brachial artery. In a prospective, double-blind study, 56 men between 32 and 65 years of age with chronic ischemic heart disease were randomized and subjected to 12 weeks of treatment with either trimetazidine (35 mg twice daily) or ranolazine. Ranolazine was administered at a dose of 375 mg twice daily for 4 weeks and was increased to 500 mg twice daily for the rest of the study. FMD and GTN were measured using high-resolution ultrasound before and after treatment. FMD increased from 3.5±7.4 to 13.8±9.4% (P<0.013; 294%) in the trimetazidine group and from 2.4±4.3 to 9.5±7.7% (P<0.037; 296%) in the ranolazine group, with no difference between the groups (P=0.444). GTN increased from 16.1±9.2 to 21.2±19.3% (P<0.022; 32%) in the trimetazidine group and from 13.8±9.6 to 21.7±13.7% (P<0.006; 57%) in the ranolazine group, with no difference between the groups (P=0.309). Both trimetazidine and ranolazine led to an improvement in FMD and GTN of the brachial artery in patients with ischemic heart disease, with no statistically significant difference between the groups.

Role of Endogenous Factors in Response of Erythrocyte Membrane in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases under Conditions of Ischemic Exposure.

We studied specific features of erythrocyte membrane response to short-term occlusion of the brachial artery in patients with cardiovascular pathology. Under ischemic conditions, processes of sorption were primarily intensified in patients with effort angina and processes of hemoglobin binding with erythrocyte membrane predominated in patients with essential hypertension. These changes in the cell membrane were related to modulation of aggregation properties of erythrocytes (in patients with angina) and plasminogen activity (in patients with essential hypertension). They can also be associated with changes in glucose levels (effort angina) and uric acid (essential hypertension) whose effects can be significantly modified by other endogenous factors.

Autonomic nervous activation triggered during induction of reactive hyperemia exerts a greater influence on the measured reactive hyperemia index by peripheral arterial tonometry than on flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery in patients with hypertension.

Flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery (FMD) and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) measured by peripheral arterial tonometry are known to be weakly associated with one another, but the mechanisms underlying this weak association remain to be clarified. We examined whether the autonomic nervous activation induced by the 5 min forearm clamping used to induce reactive hyperemia might exert any influence on the FMD and RHI in subjects with hypertension. In 115 subjects with hypertension (age 61±1 years), the FMD and RHI were measured simultaneously, and the heart rate variability (HRV) parameters (low-frequency component (LF), high-frequency component (HF), and the ratio (LF/HF) between the two) were calculated from the electrocardiographic recordings obtained before and after the start of forearm clamping. A multivariate linear regression analysis with adjustments for confounding variables demonstrated that the RHI, but not the FMD, was significantly associated with the percent change of the LF/HF associated with forearm clamping (beta=-0.204, P=0.043). In conclusion, autonomic nervous system activation, especially sympathetic activation, induced by 5-min forearm clamping utilized to provoke reactive hyperemia may significantly affect the RHI rather than FMD in subjects with hypertension.

Usefulness of Brachial Artery Flow-Mediated Dilation to Predict Long-Term Cardiovascular Events in Subjects Without Heart Disease

Endothelial dysfunction is considered an important prognostic factor in atherosclerosis. To determine the long-term association of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in healthy subjects, we prospectively assessed brachial FMD in 618 consecutive healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease, 387 men (63%), and mean age 54 ± 11 years. After overnight fasting and discontinuation of all medications for ≥12 hours, FMD was assessed using high-resolution linear array ultrasound. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: FMD ≤11.3% (n = 309) and >11.3% (n = 309), where 11.3% is the median FMD, and were comparable regarding CV risk factors, lipoproteins, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein, concomitant medications, and Framingham 10-year risk score. In a mean clinical follow-up of 4.6 ± 1.8 years, the composite CV events (all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure or angina pectoris, stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous coronary interventions) were significantly more common in subjects with FMD ≤11.3% rather than >11.3% (15.2% vs 1.2%, p = 0.0001, respectively). Univariate analysis demonstrated that the median FMD significantly predicted CV events (odds ratio 2.78, 95% CI 1.35 to 5.71, p <0.001). Multivariate analysis, controlling for traditional CV risk factors, demonstrated that median FMD was the best independent predictor of long-term CV adverse events (odds ratio 2.93, 95% CI 1.28 to 6.68, p <0.001). In conclusion, brachial artery median FMD independently predicts long-term adverse CV events in healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease in addition to those derived from traditional risk factor assessment.

Carotid Atherosclerosis and Flow Mediated Dilatation in the Brachial Artery in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case-control Study

Carotid Atherosclerosis and Flow Mediated Dilatation in the Brachial Artery in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case-control Study

Correlation of Coronary Angiographic Severity with Carotid intima Media Thickness and Flow mediated dilatation of brachial Artery in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Background: Ischemic Heart Disease which encompasses Acute Coronary Syndrome and Chronic Stable Angina is the most common cause of worldwide mortality and morbidity. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a non-invasive ultrasonographic technique to image the carotid arteries which measures the thickness of the intima and media of these vessels. It is a marker of atherosclerotic process. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) is a marker of endothelial function of arteries. Ischemic heart disease can be predicted long before its actual occurrence by observing these two phenomenons. Methods: This cross sectional study done in the Department of Cardiology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital during the period of Oct 2010- Sept 2011.We enrolled 102 patients admitted with IHD by purposive sampling. We assessed FMD of brachial artery, CIMT by vascular duplex. Coronary artery disease severity was assessed by vessel score, stenosis score and extent score from angiography. Results:The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 50.9(±11.3) years. The male- female ratio was 5:1. CIMT has significant negative correlation with FMD (r=-.407, p=&lt;.001). Flow mediated dilatation of brachial artery has weak but significant negative co-relation with vessel score(r=-.609, p=&lt;.001), stenosis score(r=- .493, p=&lt;.001) and extent score (r=-.477, p=&lt;.001). However, carotid intima media thickness has weak but positive correlation with vessel score (r=.447, p=&lt;.001), stenosis score (r=.417, p=&lt;.001) and extent score(r=.412, p=&lt;.001). Conclusion: The present study concludes CIMT has significant negative correlation with flow mediated dilatation of brachial artery. FMD has weak but significant negative co-relation and CIMT has weak but positive correlation with vessel score, stenosis score and extent score of coronary arteries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v5i2.14321 Cardiovasc. j. 2013; 5(2): 165-172

Common carotid and brachial artery hemodynamic alterations in periodontal disease

In patients affected by periodontal disease, hypertension and systemic inflammation might cause an arterial hemodynamic derangement; this, in turn, can act as a mediator of the atherogenic process often seen in these patients. This study aimed at a comprehensive hemodynamic evaluation in periodontal patients. Fourty-eight subjects participating to a cardiovascular prevention programme were enrolled. Periodontitis, classical risk factors for atherosclerosis, and shear and tensile forces in both carotid and brachial arteries were evaluated. Calculated periodontal indexes were plaque, gingival and pocket deep (PD) indexes. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed. Afterwards, 30 of them with normal PD index were compared with 30 carefully - matched patients with periodontitis. Brachial and carotid parietal tension were significantly associated with periodontal indexes, especially PD-Sum, in both simple (r=0.42, p<0.001 for carotid artery and r=0.36, p<0.02 for brachial artery) and multiple regression analyses. Shear stress gave similar results. In case-control analysis, shear stress was lower by 15% and 30%, respectively, in carotid and brachial artery in patients with high PD; common carotid parietal tension was higher. Arterial stiffness resulted not associated with periodontitis. Periodontal disease is associated to a complex atherosclerotic prone hemodynamic derangement, particularly in large elastic arteries.

Do patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes really have an impaired endothelial function? A population-based propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies suggested an impaired endothelial function in patients with diabetes. However, the validity of this finding may be limited by the lack of adequate adjustment for further cardiovascular confounders. We assessed endothelial function as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes in comparison with non-diabetic controls.MethodsThe study population comprised 1487 subjects including 122 subjects with type 2 diabetes, aged 25 to 85, from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania, and 65 outpatients, aged 23 to 75, with type 1 diabetes. FMD measurements were performed using standardized ultrasound techniques. Subjects with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were matched 1:4 to healthy controls using propensity score matching.ResultsNeither type 1 diabetes (β = 0.142; SE = 0.568, p = 0.803) nor type 2 diabetes (β = 0.107; SE = 0.340, p = 0.752) were significantly associated with FMD in comparison with their non-diabetic controls after adjustment for major cardiovascular confounders like age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, antihypertensive medication, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.ConclusionsIn this population-based study comparing adjusted FMD values of diabetic individuals with adequately matched controls, propensity score analyses revealed no association between diabetes and endothelial function. Since these findings are in discordance with the majority of previous reports, we suggest performing similar analyses using data from other population-based studies.

Vasoreactivity before and after handgrip training in chronic heart failure patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vasodilatory and vasoconstrictor responses of the brachial artery in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and controls (CON) before and after a period of training and detraining. MethodsCHF (n = 10; age = 62 ± 8 yrs) and CON (n = 10; age = 55 ± 5 yrs) subjects completed 4 weeks of bilateral handgrip training (20 min; 60% of maximal handgrip strength; 15 grips*min−1; 4 days*week−1). Handgrip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD) and cold pressor test (CPT) responses were determined using ultrasonography prior to training, at the end of 4 weeks of training and following 4 weeks of detraining. Absolute (mm) BAFMD and CPT responses were combined to yield a vascular operating range (VOR). ResultsBaseline BAFMD was higher in CON (CHF: 2.98 ± 1.49%; CON: 6.21 ± 1.21%; p = 0.01), while CPT responses were higher in CHF (CHF: 3.38 ± 0.83%; CON: 2.46 ± 0.62%; p = 0.05). Baseline VOR tended to be greater in the CON subjects (CHF: 0.28 ± 0.05 mm; CON: 0.32 ± 0.12 mm; p = 0.06). Training increased handgrip strength (∼5%; p < 0.05, for both groups), BAFMD (CHF: 2.98 ± 1.49% to 3.75 ± 1.56%; CON: 6.21 ± 1.21% – 8.02 ± 1.75%; p = 0.01) and VOR (CHF: 0.28 ± 0.05 mm – 0.3 ± 0.09 mm; CON: 0.32 ± 0.12 mm – 0.42 ± 0.11 mm; p = 0.01). There were no significant changes in CPT responses. All markers approached pre-training values following detraining. ConclusionHandgrip exercise increases strength, BAFMD and VOR in both CHF and CON subjects. These improvements are transient and return to pre-training values after removal of the training stimulus.

Abstract 17290: What Factors are Associated with the Change in Endothelial Function in Patients Who Have Undergone Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

Background: Endothelial function is one of markers predicting future cardiovascular events, even in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, much interest is focused on the change in endothelial function in CAD patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, factors associated with the change in endothelial function in these patients remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated changes in the endothelial function of the brachial artery in patients who underwent PCI and clarified the factors affecting these changes. Methods: A total of 233 CAD patients (mean age: 66 years; 185 males) who underwent successful PCI for stenotic lesions were enrolled. PCI techniques included plain old balloon angioplasty in 47 patients, stenting with a bare-metal stent in 85 patients and stenting with a drug-eluting stent (DES) in 101 patients. In each patient, the diameter of the brachial artery in response to hyperemic flow (flow-mediated dilatation: FMD) and nitroglycerin spray (nitroglycerin-induced dilation: NID) was measured using high resolution ultrasonography just before and 6-8 months after PCI. The changes in FMD and NID were defined as the differences between follow-up and baseline values. Angiographic restenosis was defined as a &gt;50% diameter reduction at the follow-up coronary angiography. The lesion morphology before PCI was determined according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification. Results: In univariate analyses, body mass index (BMI, p = 0.0002), difference in NID (p = 0.0008), use of DES (p = 0.005), lesion morphology (p = 0.0314) were associated with the change in FMD. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that use of DES (p&lt;0.0005) was negatively associated whereas BMI (p&lt;0.0001) was positively associated, with the change in FMD. Conclusions: These results suggest that use of DES has a negative impact on the change in endothelial function; however, obesity has a positive impact on the change in endothelial function in CAD patients who underwent PCI. The former may suggest the need for a careful follow-up of patients who underwent PCI with DES and the latter finding may suggest one mechanism of obesity paradox phenomenon in CAD patients who underwent PCI.