Endothelial vasodilator dysfunction assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) are two indicators of subclinical atherosclerotic disease. The aim of the study was to observe if there is a relationship between FMD and IMT in a group of hypertensive patients.
Material and method: We measured FMD and IMT by ultrasound in 75 subjects aged between 42 and 62 years. We examined their correlation and interaction with traditionally cardiovascular risk factors. Endothelial function was assessed by means of flow mediated dilation (FMD) on brachial artery, using B-mode ultrasonography.
Results: The mean value of FMD was 8.00 +/- 2.02%. We observed a moderate but significant correlation between FMD and total cholesterol (r = -0.511, p < 0.01) and between FMD and triglycerides (r = -0.325, p < 0.01). All the patients in the study were also examined by high resolution B-mode ultrasound to measure the IMT of the common carotid artery. The mean value of IMT values was 1.41 +/- 0.3 mm. The correlation between FMD and IMT was inverse, moderate and significant. In conclusion, in hypertensive patients, B-mode ultrasound intima-media thickness and FMD measurement are important tools for evaluation of arterial wall remodeling and can be used as valid markers of atherosclerosis in cardiovascular risk prediction.