Flow-mediated changes in pulse wave velocity: a new clinical measure of endothelial function.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether measuring hyperaemic changes in pulse wave velocity (PWV) could be used as a new method of assessing endothelial function for use in clinical practice.


RESULTS
Flow-mediated changes in vascular tone may be used to assess endothelial function and may be induced by distal hyperaemia, while endothelium-mediated changes in vascular tone can influence PWV. These three known principles were combined to provide and test a novel method of measuring endothelial function by the acute effects of distal hyperaemia on upper and lower limb PWV (measured by a recently developed method). Flow-mediated changes in upper and lower limb PWV were compared in 17 healthy subjects and seven patients with stable chronic heart failure (CHF), as a condition where endothelial function is impaired but endothelium-independent dilator responses are retained. Corroborative measurements of PWV and brachial artery diameter responses to endothelium-dependent and -independent pharmacological stimuli were performed in a further eight healthy subjects. Flow-mediated reduction of PWV (by 14% with no change in blood pressure) was found in normal subjects but was almost abolished in patients with CHF. PWV responses appear to be inversely related to and relatively greater than brachial artery diameter responses.


CONCLUSIONS
The method may offer potential advantages of practical use and sensitivity over conduit artery diameter responses to measure endothelial dysfunction.
Naka
Katerina K
KK
Michaelidion Cardiac Center, University of Ioannina, Ioannina GR45 110, Greece. anaka@cc.uoi.gr
Tweddel
Ann C
AC
Doshi
Sagar N
SN
Goodfellow
Jonathan
J
Henderson
Andrew H
AH
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011677:Punctures; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D014665:Vasodilator Agents