title: Flow-mediated arterial dilation in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate precocious alterations in the artery wall of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries in 16 patients and 16 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FMD of the brachial artery was significantly lower in patients than in controls (6.3 +/- 5.2% vs 18.2 +/- 2.7; P < .005). IMT was similar in the 2 groups. FMD was significantly reduced in patients with anticardiolipin antibodies IgM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APS correlates closely with precocious atherosclerosis, and the correlation with a type of anticardiolipin antibody may be predictive of more accelerated atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica, Università di Padova, Clinica medica II, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, Padua, Italy. franca.bilora@sanita.padova.it
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bilora
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campagnolo
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arzenton
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossato
mesh_terms: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin