title: Vascular function in asthmatic children and adolescents.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with bronchial asthma, but little is known about the relationship between asthma and vascular function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate endothelial function and arterial stiffness in children and adolescents with asthma.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional controlled study was designed. Measurements of endothelial function and arterial stiffness in asthmatic (13.6 ± 0.6 years) and control groups (14.9 ± 0.7 years) were taken by the non-invasive peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT2000) determined by using the natural logarithm of the reactive hyperemia index (LnRHI) and the augmentation index (AIx@75%), respectively. Patients with asthma were also administered two questionnaires to evaluate asthma control and quality of life. Exercise functional capacity was evaluated using the Shuttle Walking Test (SWT). Only male participants were included in the present study.
  
  
  
  LnRHI and the walked distance during the SWT were similar between groups (p = 0.23 and p = 0.50, respectively). AIx@75% was significantly higher in the asthmatic group (-7.75 ± 1.7) compared to the control group (-15.25 ± 1.8), p < 0.04. In the control group, the LnRHI correlated positively with baseline systolic blood pressure (r = 0.53, p = 0.02) and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.50, p = 0.03), age (r = 0.61, p = 0.007), weight (r = 0.63, p = 0.004) and height (r = 0.56, p = 0.015). Besides that LnRHI correlated with FVC (r = 0.69, p = 0.002), FEV1, (r = 0.53, p = 0.03) and negatively with Tiffeneau index (FEV1/FVC%, r = -0.49 p = 0.04). The LnRHI of the asthmatic group did not correlate with the different variables evaluated.
  
  
  
  The increased AIx@75% without changes in LnRHI in asthmatic patients could mean that an early detection of vascular impairment may precede endothelial dysfunction, and that different mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular events in this population. A large prospective and randomized controlled study should be done to evaluate the physiopathological mechanisms underlying the association between arterial stiffness and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Ciências Médicas-Minas Gerais, Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 30130-110 Alameda Ezequiel Dias 275-Centro, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Silva
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Grazielle Caroline
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Ciências Médicas-Minas Gerais, Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 30130-110 Alameda Ezequiel Dias 275-Centro, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Felippe
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosária Dias
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virgínia Soares
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Referência de Saúde Saudade, Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte (URS Saudade- SUS BH), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiana Fátima Correa
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade Ciências Médicas-Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nulma Souto
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Jentzsch
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Ciências Médicas-Minas Gerais, Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 30130-110 Alameda Ezequiel Dias 275-Centro, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. maria.machado@cienciasmedicasmg.edu.br.
authors.forename: Maria Glória
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Machado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Endothelial dysfunction; Exercise functional capacity; Pulmonary function test; Quality of life; Reactive hyperemia index