title: Impaired endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilatation in workers occupationally exposed to lead.
abstract: The aim of the study was to examine endothelial function in workers occupationally exposed to lead by means of FMD (flow-mediated dilatation). 44 men professionally exposed to lead, smelters and refiners, employees working at copper smelter and control group of 41 healthy men were enrolled into the study. Within the group of men occupationally exposed to lead the absolute increase in diameter after ischaemia (BAD, brachial artery diameter) and flow-mediated dilation were statistically less significant when compared to those of the control group. There was a negative linear correlation between FMD and lead concentration in copper smelters (r=-0.64). Multivariate backward step-wise regression analysis showed that blood lead concentration in copper smelters independently influenced the impairment of endothelial function expressed as decreased FMD value. In conclusion, results of our study suggest that endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilatation was impaired in workers occupationally exposed to lead.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, Medical University of Wrocław, Pasteur 4, PL 50-367 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poręba
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poręba
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gać
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pilecki
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrzejak