BACKGROUND: Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are characterized by a high mortality for cardiovascular events. An impairment of endothelial function, expressed as brachial-artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV), has been described in PAD patients. Aim of this study was to investigate the association between FMV and cardiovascular events in patients with PAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with intermittent claudication (71% men, mean age 71 years) were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of previous major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or stroke). RESULTS: Brachial FMV was significantly lower in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or stroke (n = 16) than in patients without cardiovascular events (3.2 +/- 3.6% vs. 5.7 +/- 3.6%; p = 0.042). In the group with cardiovascular events there was a significantly higher proportion of subjects in the lower FMV tertile (56% vs. 18%), and a lower proportion of subjects in the upper tertile (25% vs. 41%; chi 2 test, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: We conclude that FMV of the brachial artery is significantly reduced in PAD patients with a history of stroke and myocardial infarction. These cross-sectional results suggest a potential role of FMV as a marker of major cardiovascular events.
Association between endothelial dysfunction and major cardiovascular events in peripheral arterial disease
PASQUALINI, Leonella;MARCHESI, Simona;VAUDO, Gaetano;SIEPI, Donatella;SCHILLACI, Giuseppe;MANNARINO, Elmo
2003
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are characterized by a high mortality for cardiovascular events. An impairment of endothelial function, expressed as brachial-artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV), has been described in PAD patients. Aim of this study was to investigate the association between FMV and cardiovascular events in patients with PAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with intermittent claudication (71% men, mean age 71 years) were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of previous major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or stroke). RESULTS: Brachial FMV was significantly lower in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or stroke (n = 16) than in patients without cardiovascular events (3.2 +/- 3.6% vs. 5.7 +/- 3.6%; p = 0.042). In the group with cardiovascular events there was a significantly higher proportion of subjects in the lower FMV tertile (56% vs. 18%), and a lower proportion of subjects in the upper tertile (25% vs. 41%; chi 2 test, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: We conclude that FMV of the brachial artery is significantly reduced in PAD patients with a history of stroke and myocardial infarction. These cross-sectional results suggest a potential role of FMV as a marker of major cardiovascular events.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
