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Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
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Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

Endothelial function in patients with and without diabetes mellitus with different degrees of coronary artery

Iana I Simova1, Stefan V Denchev, Simeon I Dimitrov

  • 1Clinic of Cardiology, University Hospital Alexandrovska, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU
|September 27, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is linked to endothelial dysfunction, impacting brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). This difference was most pronounced in patients without significant coronary artery stenosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of atherosclerosis.
  • Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) assesses endothelial function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare endothelial function, measured by brachial artery FMD, between patients with and without diabetes mellitus.
  • To investigate the influence of coronary artery stenosis severity on FMD in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Main Methods:

  • A total of 293 patients were studied, with 69 (23.6%) having diabetes mellitus.
  • Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and coronary arteriography were performed in all participants.

Main Results:

  • Patients with diabetes mellitus exhibited significantly lower FMD compared to those without diabetes (3.7% vs 5.2%).
  • The difference in FMD between diabetic and non-diabetic patients was statistically significant only in the subgroup without significant coronary artery stenosis (5.2% vs 7.6%).
  • With increasing severity of coronary artery disease, the difference in FMD between the groups diminished.

Conclusions:

  • Diabetes mellitus is associated with endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.
  • The impact of diabetes on endothelial function is most evident in individuals without significant coronary stenosis.
  • Advanced coronary atherosclerosis may mask the specific effects of diabetes on endothelial function as measured by FMD.
Abstract

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