Relationship between noninvasively measured endothelial function and peripheral arterial disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between endothelial function by means of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD) and the clinical severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).


RESULTS
We examined the brachial artery diameter by ultrasound, before and after ischemia of the arm in 3 groups of participants- group A: healthy individuals under 30 years, without cardiovascular risk factors (n = 30); group B: patients with PAD and ischemic claudication (n = 30); and group C: patients with critical leg ischemia (n = 20). There were no differences between groups B and C, in regard to age, sex, and main cardiovascular risk factor. The BAFMD was 9.9% in group A compared with 5.5% in the pooled patients group (B + C; P < .001). Significant differences were absent between groups B and C (P > .05). Correlation coefficient of ankle-brachial index/BAFMD was r = .1; P = .49.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PAD present endothelial dysfunction, but this does not seem to determine the severity of the disease.
Maldonado
Francisco José Medina
FJ
Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Getafe University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Miralles
Joaquín de Haro
Jde H
Aguilar
Esther Martínez
EM
Gonzalez
Aurora Florez
AF
García
Jose Ramón March
JR
García
Francisco Acín
FA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*