title: A novel echocardiographic method as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary slow flow.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is considered the first stage in the development of atherosclerosis. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) has been impaired in patients with coronary slow flow (CSF). Recently, color M-mode derived propagation velocity of descending thoracic aorta (aortic propagation velocity-AVP) was shown to be an ultrasonographic marker for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess endothelial function in patients with CSF and the correlation of AVP with FMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  FMD and AVP were measured in 90 patients with CSF and 39 patients having normal coronary arteries (NCA) detected by coronary angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to patients with normal coronary arteries patients having CSF had significantly lower AVP (39.1±8.4 vs. 53.7±12.7 cm/s, p < 0.001) and FMD (5.6±3.2 vs. 17.6±4.4 %, p < 0.001) measurements. There were significant correlations between AVP and FMD (r = 0.524, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transthoracic echocardiographic determination of color M-mode propagation velocity of descending aorta is a simple practical method and correlates well with coronary slow flow and brachial endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Yuzunci Yil University, Van, Turkey. dr.hsimsek@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akdag
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Gumrukcuoglu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaman
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054318:No-Reflow Phenomenon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology