title: Relationship between upper and lower limb conduit artery vasodilator function in humans.
abstract: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular disease and is believed to represent a "barometer" of systemic endothelial health. Although a recent study [Padilla et al. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 235: 1287-1291, 2010] in pigs confirmed a strong correlation between brachial and femoral artery endothelial function, it is unclear to what extent brachial artery FMD represents a systemic index of endothelial function in humans. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from our laboratory to evaluate relationships between the upper (i.e., brachial artery) vs. lower limb (superficial femoral n = 75; popliteal artery n = 32) endothelium-dependent FMD and endothelium-independent glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-mediated dilation in young, healthy individuals. We also examined the relationship between FMD assessed in both brachial arteries (n = 42). There was no correlation between brachial and superficial femoral artery FMD (r(2) = 0.008; P = 0.46) or between brachial and popliteal artery FMD (r(2) = 0.003; P = 0.78). However, a correlation was observed in FMD between both brachial arteries (r(2) = 0.34; P < 0.001). Brachial and superficial femoral artery GTN were modestly correlated (r(2) = 0.13; P = 0.007), but brachial and popliteal artery GTN responses were not (r(2) = 0.08; P = 0.11). Collectively, these data indicate that conduit artery vasodilator function in the upper limbs (of healthy humans) is not predictive of that in the lower limbs, whereas measurement of FMD in one arm appears to be predictive of FMD in the other. These data do not support the hypothesis that brachial artery FMD in healthy humans represents a systemic index of endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Tom Reilly Bldg., Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom St., Liverpool L3 3AF, UK. d.thijssen@fysiol.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Dick H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: Grant H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: M Harold
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Laughlin
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: N Timothy
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Cable
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin