title: Flow-mediated vasodilation is augmented in a corkscrew collateral artery compared with that in a native artery in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A healthy endothelium maintains vascular tone and structure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate endothelial function in corkscrew collateral arteries in Buerger disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in corkscrew arteries in 26 patients with Buerger disease, in control arteries in 26 healthy subjects, and in native arteries in 16 patients with Buerger disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyperemic flow was lower in corkscrew arteries than in native arteries in patients with Buerger disease and in control arteries in healthy subjects. There was no significant difference between hyperemic flow in patients with Buerger disease in whom measurements were performed in native arteries and that in healthy subjects. FMD was lower in corkscrew arteries and native arteries in patients with Buerger disease than in control arteries in healthy subjects. There was no significant difference between FMD in corkscrew arteries in patients with Buerger disease and in that in native arteries. The ratio of FMD to hyperemic flow was significantly smaller in native arteries in patients with Buerger disease than in corkscrew arteries and in control arteries in healthy subjects (5.5 ± 6.2 vs 8.8 ± 8.9 and 9.6 ± 7.6 mL/min, P < .001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the ratio of FMD to hyperemic flow between corkscrew arteries in Buerger disease and control arteries in healthy subjects. Nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation was similar in all leg arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endothelial function of a corkscrew collateral artery in patients with Buerger disease is maintained, while endothelial function is impaired in a native artery in Buerger disease.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Fujii
authors: Noritaka
authors: N
authors: Fujimura
authors: Shinsuke
authors: S
authors: Mikami
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Maruhashi
authors: Yasuki
authors: Y
authors: Kihara
authors: Kazuaki
authors: K
authors: Chayama
authors: Kensuke
authors: K
authors: Noma
authors: Yukihito
authors: Y
authors: Higashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*