title: Brachial artery hyperaemic blood flow velocity in relation to established indices of vascular function and global atherosclerosis: the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systolic to diastolic blood flow velocity (SDFV) ratio in the brachial artery recently proved to be related to cardiovascular risk and carotid atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that the SDFV ratio was related to established markers of vascular function and global atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Established markers of endothelial function in forearm resistance vessels, flow-mediated vasodilation and arterial stiffness were assessed in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study including 1016 individuals aged 70. Whole-body magnetic resonance angiography was performed in a random 306 of the participants. Atherosclerotic lesions were summarized in a total atherosclerotic score (TAS). Before and during hyperaemia of the brachial artery, systolic and diastolic blood flow velocities were measured by Doppler.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SDFV ratio was positively related to endothelium-independent vasodilatation, while inverse relations were found to flow-mediated dilation, common carotid artery distensibility and the stroke volume to pulse pressure ratio. Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and total peripheral resistance index were not significantly related to the SDFV ratio. The SDFV ratio (P = 0·015) and the blood flow increase (BFI) during hyperaemia (P = 0·020) were both significantly related to TAS after gender adjustment. When adjusted for the Framingham risk score, both the SDFV ratio (P = 0·057) and BFI (P = 0·078) lost somewhat in significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SDFV ratio was related to established markers of both vasodilation and arterial compliance, and to global atherosclerosis. Future larger studies have to evaluate whether the SDFV ratio is related to global atherosclerosis independently of traditional risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. susann.jarhult@medsci.uu.se
authors.forename: Susann J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Järhult
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahlström
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundström
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lind
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003187:Compliance; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014664:Vasodilation; D051598:Whole Body Imaging