Endothelial dysfunction evaluated by flow mediated dilation is strongly associated to metabolic syndrome in the
Angela de Matthaeis1, Antonio Greco, Gaetano Serviddio
1Internal Medicine Department, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy.
Abstract:
This study was carried out to assess whether endothelial dysfunction, evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), is related to the occurrence of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in old age. Eighty patients (25 men and 55 women), mean age 74.1±7.4 years (range 65-99 yrs) were studied. Information on all subjects, medical history and regular medications was obtained. Subjects underwent a clinical examination and laboratory tests. The presence of MetS was evaluated according to the revised NCEP-ATP III criteria. An ultrasound vascular examination (US) of the carotid and brachial arteries was performed in all patients. Intima-media thickness (IMT), presence of plaques (PL), endothelium-dependent (EDV) and -independent vasodilation (EIDV) were also evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence/absence of MetS. Significant differences were found between MetS and non MetS patients in: EDV (p<0.01), EIDV (p<0.05) and Homeostatic model assessment index (HOMA) (p<0.02), but not in IMT or PL. MetS was significantly associated with FMD reduction (R 0.4, p<0.005) independently of all possible confounding factors other than EIDV, IMT and PL.
