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Updated: May 17, 2026

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
08:42

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

Published on: October 22, 2014

Clinical correlates and prognostic value of flow mediated dilation in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute

Giulia Careri1, Roberto Nerla, Antonio Di Monaco

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Cardiovascolare, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|October 16, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Endothelial dysfunction is severe in acute coronary syndromes but improves within 3 months. Impaired flow-mediated dilation at 3 months predicts adverse cardiac events in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Endothelial dysfunction is a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes.
  • Non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) involve complex cardiovascular pathophysiology.
  • Assessing endothelial function provides insights into cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the severity and time course of endothelial dysfunction in patients with NSTE ACS.
  • To determine the clinical implications of endothelial dysfunction for cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To compare endothelial function in NSTE ACS patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Main Methods:

  • Sixty patients with NSTE ACS and 40 controls with stable CAD were enrolled.
  • Endothelial function was assessed using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery.
  • FMD measurements were taken on admission and at 3-month follow-up, with clinical outcomes tracked for 32 months.

Main Results:

  • On admission, FMD was significantly lower in NSTE ACS patients compared to stable CAD controls (2.1% vs 4.8%, p <0.001).
  • FMD improved significantly by 3 months in NSTE ACS patients, reaching levels comparable to controls (5.7% vs 5.5%, p = 0.93).
  • Diabetes and lower FMD at 3 months were independent predictors of cardiac events in NSTE ACS patients.

Conclusions:

  • Endothelial function is markedly impaired during the acute phase of NSTE ACS.
  • Endothelial function significantly improves within 3 months post-NSTE ACS event.
  • Three-month FMD is a significant independent predictor of future cardiac outcomes in NSTE ACS patients.

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