title: Endothelial pulse amplitude testing: feasibility and reproducibility in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test prospectively the reproducibility and feasibility of endothelial pulse amplitude testing (Endo-PAT), a novel Food and Drug Administration-approved technology, in healthy adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed Endo-PAT testing on 2 different days separated by no more than 7 days in 30 healthy fasting adolescents, ages 13 to 19 years, to assess reproducibility and feasibility. The reported level of discomfort, as measured on a pain scale of 1 to 5, was documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean difference in paired Endo-PAT indices was 0.12 (95% CI, -0.09-0.33; P = .24; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.78), and the within-subject variation of Endo-PAT index was 0.16. The Endo-PAT index on test days 1 and 2 were 1.91 +/- 0.57 and 1.78 +/- 0.51 (mean plus or minus SD), respectively. All attempted studies (100%) were completed (95% CI, 88%-100%), and all completed studies (100%) could be analyzed (95% CI, 88%-100%). The median pain score was 1 on both days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy adolescents, Endo-PAT is feasible and has excellent reproducibility. This technology may provide an easy and reliable means of assessing endothelial function in the pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02155, USA. Seda.Tierney@cardio.chboston.org
authors.forename: Elif Seda
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Selamet Tierney
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newburger
authors.forename: Kimberlee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gauvreau
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geva
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coogan
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Colan
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: de Ferranti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001916:Brachial Artery; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011674:Pulse; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results