title: Flow-mediated vasodilation and anatomical variation of the brachial artery (double brachial artery) in healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of anatomical variation of the brachial artery on flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the prevalence of double brachial artery between healthy subjects (6.1%) and patients with CVD (6.5%). In healthy subjects, FMD was larger in a single brachial artery than in large and small vessels of a double brachial artery (7.2±3.4% vs. 4.7±3.3% and 4.5±2.5%, P<0.01, respectively). In patients with CVD, there were no significant differences in FMD among a single brachial artery, large vessel of a double brachial artery and small vessel of a double brachial artery (3.3±1.4%, 3.1±2.3% and 3.6±2.1%). FMD in a single brachial artery was smaller in patients with CVD than in healthy subjects. There were no significant differences in FMD in the large vessel of a double brachial artery between the 2 groups or in the small vessel of a double brachial artery between the 2 groups. Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation was similar in all arteries in healthy subjects and patients with CVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When measuring FMD, the existence of a double brachial artery should be checked. FMD measured in a double brachial artery may be underestimated in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teragawa
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soga
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Idei
authors.forename: Noritaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruhashi
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.forename: Ayumu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Yukihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin