title: Venous or arterial endothelium evaluation for early cardiovascular dysfunction in hypertensive patients?
abstract: Veins and arteries have active endothelium, producing vasoactive substances like nitric oxide. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hypertensive patients exhibit venous endothelial dysfunction and to determine the relationship between endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilation responses in venous and arterial systems. Sixteen unmedicated patients with stage I and II hypertension and without other risk factors and 15 matched normotensive volunteers had venous and arterial endothelial function evaluated with the dorsal hand vein technique and brachial artery ultrasonography. Hypertensive patients had a marked reduction of maximum dilation to acetylcholine (54.9% +/- 21.6%) compared with normotensive controls (85.2% +/- 27.0%). The flow-mediated dilation responses were reduced in hypertensive patients compared with controls (6.6% +/- 3.3%vs 12.4% +/- 2.6%, respectively). The responses to nitric oxide were similar in both groups, and the responses with the dorsal hand vein technique and flow-mediated dilation agreed in both groups. Hypertensive patients had an attenuated endothelial dependent response, indicating that endothelial dysfunction is also present in the venous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Custódio
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rubira
authors.forename: Fernanda Marciano
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Consolim-Colombo
authors.forename: Eneida Rejane
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rabelo
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yugar-Toledo
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casarini
authors.forename: Silmara Regina
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: Luis Cláudio
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Heitor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Eduardo Moacir
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Maria Claúdia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Irigoyen
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000109:Acetylcholine