Impairment of the vasodilatation capability of the brachial artery in patients with idiopathic venous thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
Determination of the functional capability of the peripheral arteries is increasingly used as an early marker of vessel disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate flow-mediated (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate-mediated (NMD) dilation of the brachial artery in patients with idiopathic venous thrombosis (VT).


METHODS
Flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation and the dilatation response to glyceryl trinitrate were measured using high-resolution ultrasound in 97 subjects (49 eligible patients of both sexes, mean age 51.5 ± 14.6 years, with idiopathic venous thrombosis, and 48 age-matched healthy controls).


RESULTS
Compared to the control group, FMD was significantly reduced in the group of patients with idiopathic venous thrombosis -4.9% (95% CI 1.1-8.7%) vs. 12.7% (95% CI 7.8-17.6%), p<0.001. Patients also had diminished NMD of the brachial artery -12.5% (95% CI 6.6-18.4%) vs. 18.5% (95% CI 10.1-26.9%), p<0.001. In patients, significantly higher levels of circulatory markers (P-selectin, von Willebrand factor) of endothelial dysfunction were registered.


CONCLUSIONS
Idiopathic venous thrombosis is associated with impaired flow- and GTN-mediated vasodilatory response of the brachial artery. This may suggest involvement of the functional deterioration of the vessel wall in the pathogenesis of idiopathic VT and indicate a relationship between VT and atherothrombosis.
Jezovnik
Mateja Kaja
MK
Department of Vascular Disease, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Slovenia.
Poredos
Pavel
P
Stalc
Monika
M
D015415:Biomarkers; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin