title: Non-invasive measurements of arterial structure and function: repeatability, interrelationships and trial sample size.
abstract: 1. Repeatability of measurements of arterial compliance and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery has been infrequently reported, despite increasing use in interventional and risk-factor modification studies. Furthermore, little is known about the interrelationships of the various indices. The purposes of this study were to determine the repeatability and interrelationships of a range of arterial indices.2. Fifty healthy volunteers, 20 men and 30 women, aged 20-70 (mean 46.5) years, were studied on two occasions, using an identical protocol, at a mean interval of 2.5 weeks. Tonometry, ultrasound and Doppler technique were used to measure the following: carotid wall intima-media thickness (IMT), total systemic artery compliance (SAC), arterial pulse wave velocity [PWV aorto-femoral (A-F), and femoral-dorsalis pedis (F-D)], carotid distensibility coefficient (DC) and carotid augmentation index (AI). Brachial flow-mediated dilation was measured in 30 subjects with analysis of diameter change for 4 min post ischaemia.3. There were no systematic differences over the observed range of measurements for any of the reported parameters. Coefficients of variation were as follows: IMT 2.8%, SAC 9.2%, PWV(A-F) 3.2%, PWV(F-D) 5.0%, DC 10.0%, AI 1.3%. Brachial flow-mediated dilation curves were not different between visits; changes were maximum 60-s post ischaemia. All indices of arterial compliance were significantly correlated with age. The three different indices of central arterial compliance [SAC, PWV(A-F) and AI] were significantly correlated with carotid intima-media thickness.4. Under controlled experimental conditions there was good repeatability of measurements of indices between sessions of both intrinsic and functional arterial mechanical properties (central and carotid arterial compliance, intima-media thickness and brachial flow-mediated dilation). Sample size tables for clinical trials using these indices are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teede
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotsopoulos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shiel
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dart
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018401:Sample Size; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*