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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
Published on: October 22, 2014
Sonographic Evaluation of Endothelial Function in Brachial Arteries of Adult Stroke Patients
Adeleye Dorcas Omisore1, Oluwagbemiga Oluwole Ayoola1, Bolanle Olubunmi Ibitoye1
1Departments of Radiology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
Insights
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation is significantly lower in acute stroke patients, indicating reduced endothelial function. This measure serves as a marker for cardiovascular risk and a potential indicator in the acute phase of stroke.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Ultrasound
- Cardiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction, assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), is an early indicator of atherosclerosis.
- Atherosclerosis is a significant factor in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke.
- Evaluating FMD may help identify individuals at risk for stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between brachial artery FMD, cardiovascular risk factors, and acute stroke.
- To compare FMD in patients with acute stroke, those with cardiovascular risk factors, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- B-mode sonography was used to measure brachial artery FMD in 150 participants.
- Participants included 50 stroke patients, 50 individuals with cardiovascular risk factors, and 50 healthy controls.
- Measurements were taken before and after forearm cuff occlusion.
Main Results:
- Brachial artery FMD was significantly lower in the stroke group (4.37%) and risk factor group (5.62%) compared to the control group (10.33%).
- FMD was lower in ischemic stroke patients (3.79%) compared to intracerebral hemorrhage patients (6.02%).
- No significant difference in FMD was observed between ischemic stroke subtypes.
Conclusions:
- Reduced brachial artery FMD is associated with acute stroke and indicates impaired endothelial function.
- Decreased FMD in stroke patients is particularly linked to cerebral infarction.
- Brachial artery FMD is a marker of cardiovascular risk and a potential indicator in acute stroke phases.
Objectives:
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation on sonography is used to evaluate endothelial dysfunction, which is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis and predates structural atherosclerotic lesions by many years. Atherosclerosis has been implicated in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to determine the association between brachial flow-mediated dilatation, the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, and acute stroke.
Methods:
We evaluated right brachial arteries of 150 participants (50 stroke patients, 50 patients with cardiovascular risk factors, and 50 healthy control individuals) with B-mode sonography before and 5 minutes after sphygmomanometer cuff application to their forearms. Analysis of variance for multiple comparisons was used between each group.
Results:
Mean ages of the stroke, risk factor, and control groups ± SD were 57.5 ± 14.8, 52.4 ± 16.0, and 56.1 ± 14.9 years, respectively (P = .235). Flow-mediated dilatation rates were 4.37% ± 1.50%, 5.62% ± 1.23%, and 10.33% ± 1.96% in the stroke, risk factor, and control groups (P ≤ .001). Dilatation was 3.79% ± 0.92% in ischemic stroke compared with 6.02% ± 1.62% in intracerebral hemorrhage (P < .001), but there was no significant difference in dilatation between ischemic stroke subtypes according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification (P = .301).
Conclusions:
Brachial flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in patients with acute stroke compared with controls matched for vascular risk factors and healthy controls. Decreased vascular endothelial function in stroke patients was particularly related to cerebral infarction compared with intracerebral hemorrhage. Brachial flow-mediated dilatation did not differentiate ischemic stroke subtypes by the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification. Flow-mediated dilatation was therefore found to be a marker of cardiovascular risk and a probable reactant in the acute phase of stroke.
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