[Noninvasive investigation of endothelial function in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (HCE)]

Functional assessment of endothelium by endothelium-dependent and non-endothelium dependent response of the brachial artery (BA) in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis.

The ACUSON 128 XP/10 unit furnished with linear meter with phase grid (7.0 MHz) was employed in two-direction scanning mode to measure BA diameter at rest, under reactive hyperemia (endothelium-dependent response) and after sublingual intake of 0.01 mg of nitroglycerin (non-endothelium-dependent response) in 12 patients with blood hypertension (group 3), 10 subjects with family hypercholesterolemia (group 2) and 10 healthy subjects (group 1, control).

The flow-dependent dilatation remained unchanged in BH patients (9.4%) and lowered in HCE patients (3.0%) compared to controls (9.5%). Nitroglycerin-induced dilatation was not significantly different in patients with family hypercholesterolemia (16.6%), hypertensive subjects (14.5%) and healthy controls (20.5%).

The ultrasound method of detection of endothelial dysfunction is demonstrated. Endothelial dysfunction in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia may contribute to development of atherosclerosis.