Peripheral vascular endothelial function in essential hyperhidrosis.
BACKGROUND
Essential hyperhidrosis, a disorder of the eccrine sweat glands, is associated with sympathetic overactivity and the aim of the present study was to determine endothelium-dependent vasodilator function in patients with this condition.


RESULTS
Using high-resolution ultrasound, the diameter of the brachial artery at rest and during reactive hyperemia (flow-mediated dilatation, %FMD endothelial-dependent stimulus to vasodilatation), as well as after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin (%NTG endothelium-independent vasodilatation) was measured in 18 subjects (mean age 27+/-5 years) with essential hyperhidrosis and 24 healthy control subjects (mean age 29+/-5 years). Baseline brachial artery diameter and FMD were comparable in both groups (BAD: 4.1+/-0.7 mm vs 4.3+/-0.5 mm (control), p = 0.8; FMD: 5.6+/-1.9% vs 6.7+/-2.2%, p=0.1). The time-averaged flow velocity during peak reactive hyperemia was similar in the 2 groups (75+/-11 cm/s vs 72+/-10 cm/s, p = 0.5), nor did NTG-induced dilatation in the patients with essential hyperhidrosis differ significantly from that in healthy control subjects (12.8+/-2.7% vs 14.0+/-3.6%, p = 0.3).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that endothelium-dependent dilatation of large conduit arteries is preserved in essential hyperhidrosis and it seems to be a localized disorder of the eccrine sweat glands rather than a generalized disorder involving vascular endothelium.
Esen
Ali Metin
AM
Kosuyolu Heart Education and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Barutcu
Irfan
I
Karaca
Semsettin
S
Kaya
Dayimi
D
Kulac
Mustafa
M
Esen
Ozlem
O
Karakaya
Osman
O
Melek
Mehmet
M
Onrat
Ersel
E
Celik
Atac
A
Kilit
Celal
C
D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin