Arterial structure and function and environmental exposure to cadmium.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have addressed the effect of cadmium toxicity on arterial properties.


METHODS
We investigated the possible association of 24 h urinary cadmium excretion (an index of lifetime exposure) with measures of arterial function in a randomly selected population sample (n = 557) from two rural areas with low and high environmental exposure to cadmium.


RESULTS
24 h urinary cadmium excretion was significantly higher in the high compared with the low exposure group (p<0.001). Even though systolic (p = 0.42), diastolic (p = 0.14) and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.68) did not differ between the high and low exposure groups, aortic pulse wave velocity (p = 0.008), brachial pulse pressure (p = 0.026) and femoral pulse pressure (p = 0.008) were significantly lower in the high exposure group. Additionally, femoral distensibility (p<0.001) and compliance (p = 0.001) were significantly higher with high exposure. Across quartiles of 24 h urinary cadmium excretion (adjusted for sex and age), brachial (p for trend = 0.015) and femoral (p for trend = 0.018) pulse pressure significantly decreased and femoral distensibility (p for trend = 0.008) and compliance (p for trend = 0.007) significantly increased with higher cadmium excretion. After full adjustment, the partial regression coefficients confirmed these associations. Pulse wave velocity (beta = -0.79+/-0.27; p = 0.004) and carotid (beta = -4.20+/-1.51; p = 0.006), brachial (beta = -5.43+/-1.41; p = 0.001) and femoral (beta = -4.72+/-1.74; p = 0.007) pulse pressures correlated negatively, whereas femoral compliance (beta = 0.11+/-0.05; p = 0.016) and distensibility (beta = 1.70+/-0.70; p = 0.014) correlated positively with cadmium excretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased cadmium body burden is associated with lower aortic pulse wave velocity, lower pulse pressure throughout the arterial system, and higher femoral distensibility.
Schutte
R
R
Studies Coordinating Centre, Division of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Nawrot
T
T
Richart
T
T
Thijs
L
L
Roels
H A
HA
Van Bortel
L M
LM
Struijker-Boudier
H
H
Staessen
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001822:Body Burden; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003187:Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012423:Rural Health; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D002104:Cadmium