[Endothelium disfunction in patients with myocardial infarction at the younger age]

The endothelium was studied in males who had sustained myocardial infarction (MI) at young age (under 45 years). The parameters of endothelium-dependent dilatation of the brachial artery were estimated during a reactive hyperemia test and the blood count of circulating (desquamated) endotheliocytes was measured. The values obtained in patients groups randomized by different parameters were compared with each other and with control values. The patients who had experienced in youth were found to have endothelial dysfunction, as appeared as both a larger number of circulating blood endotheliocytes and an altered vascular response during the reactive hyperemia test. It was found that endothelial function was not clearly related to the risk factors of atherosclerosis though the association was more marked when coronary heart disease is concurrent with arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.