Non-invasive detection of early endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolaemic subjects

Hypercholesterolaemia is associated with accelerated atherogenesis. Before the evidence of morphological lesions or plaques, endothelial dysfunctions, such as impairment in endothelium-dependent vascular tone regulation, may occur. We studied 32 subjects, 16 with primary hypercholesterolaemia and 16...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atherosclerosis 1995-04, Vol.114 (2), p.247-254
Main Authors: Arcaro, Guido, Zenere, Beatrice Marina, Travia, Daniela, Zenti, M.Grazia, Covi, Grazia, Lechi, Alessandro, Muggeo, Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Arterial distensibility
Biological and medical sciences
Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia
Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology
Endothelium-dependent vasodilation
Endothelium-independent vasodilation
Female
Femoral Artery - pathology
Humans
Hypercholesterolaemia
Hypercholesterolemia - pathology
Hypercholesterolemia - physiopathology
Male
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Nitric oxide
Vascular reactivity
Vasodilation
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Summary:Hypercholesterolaemia is associated with accelerated atherogenesis. Before the evidence of morphological lesions or plaques, endothelial dysfunctions, such as impairment in endothelium-dependent vascular tone regulation, may occur. We studied 32 subjects, 16 with primary hypercholesterolaemia and 16 normocholesterolaemic controls. Flow-dependent vasodilation, an endothelium-dependent phenomenon, was evaluated by measuring femoral artery diameter and flow velocity in basal conditions and during distal post-ischaemic hyperaemia, using a high resolution echo-Doppler. Arterial distensibility and compliance were evaluated for the common carotid and femoral arteries, using a pulsed echo-tracking system and measuring the absolute and relative stroke change in arterial diameter. In the hypercholesterolaemic group there was no flow-dependent arterial relaxation, indicated by the area under the curve of percentage diameter variation as a function of time. This parameter was inversely correlated with both total and LDL-cholesterol values in all population subjects. No difference was observed between the two groups in endothelium-independent vasodilation induced by glyceryl trinitrate administration or arterial wall distensibility and compliance, confirming the hypothesis of a functional defect.
ISSN:0021-9150
1879-1484
DOI:10.1016/0021-9150(94)05489-6