Morphologic rather than functional or mechanical sonographic parameters of the brachial artery are related to angiographically evident coronary atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among coronary atherosclerosis and functional, morphologic, and mechanical parameters assessed noninvasively within the brachial artery (BA).


BACKGROUND
Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the BA, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, and distensibility of the aorta have been correlated with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
The BA was examined with high-resolution ultrasound (13 MHz) in 117 male patients, in whom coronary angiography was performed. Coronary artery disease (> or =30% diameter stenosis in > or =1 major branch) was found in 84 patients, and 33 patients had smooth coronary arteries (non-CAD). Wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) was calculated from resting diameter and IMT.


RESULTS
The BA-WCSA (5.3 +/- 1.5 mm(2) vs. 4.4 +/- 1.4 mm(2), p = 0.002) and IMT (0.37 +/- 0.07 mm vs. 0.31 +/- 0.07 mm, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in patients with CAD compared with non-CAD patients. Flow-mediated vasodilation and distensibility were similar among groups. Using logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, positive family history, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, FMD, and distensibility, only WCSA (p < 0.01) and IMT (p < 0.001) correlated independently with the presence of CAD.


CONCLUSIONS
Morphologic but not functional and mechanical parameters of the BA are associated with the presence of CAD. Among BA sonographic parameters, IMT and WCSA seem to be the most accurate ones for the estimation of coronary atherosclerotic risk.
Frick
Matthias
M
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Schwarzacher
Severin P
SP
Alber
Hannes F
HF
Rinner
Alexander
A
Ulmer
Hanno
H
Pachinger
Otmar
O
Weidinger
Franz
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology