title: Are flow-mediated vasodilatation and intima-media thickness of the brachial artery associated with restenosis after endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Restenosis after percutaneous angioplasty of peripheral arteries is still an unsolved matter. Previous studies reported an association between flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), a marker of endothelial dysfunction, and restenosis after coronary angioplasty. This study evaluates the influence of FMD and brachial intima-media thickness (B-IMT) on restenosis after angioplasty of peripheral arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-four patients (124 male) with claudication related to peripheral arterial disease participated in this trial. FMD and B-IMT were assessed before endovascular revascularisation. In a 12-month follow-up duplex ultrasound examinations were performed to detect restenosis. Finally 128 patients (91male, 37 female) were eligible for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Restenosis was found in 54 patients (42.2%). Mean FMD was 3.53 ± 3.56%, with no difference between the patients with restenosis (3.55 ± 3.64%) and those without (3.52 ± 3.48%; p = 0.716). B-IMT had a mean value of 0.326 ± 0.134 mm. B-IMT significantly differed between the patients with restenosis (0.326 ± 0.134 mm) and those without (0.256 ± 0.133 mm; p = 0.007). We confirmed that a B-IMT over 0.21 mm was an independent risk factor for restenosis [OR 2.9 (1.3-6.3)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endothelial dysfunction is not associated with restenosis. Conversely patients with enlarged B-IMT are at risk of restenosis after angioplasty of peripheral arteries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036, Graz, Austria. franz.hafner@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seinost
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brodmann
mesh_terms: D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D014664:Vasodilation