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A combined test of acetylcholine‐mediated vasodilation of both the forearm resistance vessels and the radial artery
Author(s) -
Lind Lars
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/cpf.12014
Subject(s) - radial artery , medicine , brachial artery , vasodilation , forearm , cardiology , blood flow , sodium nitroprusside , artery , plethysmograph , vascular resistance , hemodynamics , anesthesia , anatomy , blood pressure , nitric oxide
Summary Objective To evaluate a new combined test of endothelium‐dependent vasodilation ( EDV ) in the forearm resistance vessel and the radial artery. Methods Acetylcholine ( AC h) and sodium nitroprusside ( SNP ) infusion in the brachial artery were used to simultaneous evaluate EDV and endothelium‐independent vasodilation ( EIDV ) in forearm resistance vessels (plethysmography) and in the radial artery (ultrasound) in 76 healthy subjects. Brachial artery ultrasound was used to assess flow‐mediated vasodilation ( FMD ). Results Acetylcholine induced a 4·5% (median value, P = 0·0010) increase in the radial artery diameter, while SNP induced a 31·2% increase in diameter ( P <0·0001). While no increase in radial artery blood flow was induced by AC h ( P = 0·69), an increase by 181% in radial blood flow was induced by SNP ( P <0·0001). When relating the radial artery diameter data to FMD , the change in radial artery diameter induced by AC h was significantly correlated with FMD ( r = 0·35, P = 0·013). No such relationship was seen for the diameter change induced by SNP ( r = −0·03, P = 0·81). When relating the radial artery blood flow data to EDV and EIDV , the change in radial artery blood flow induced by AC h was significantly correlated with EDV in an inverse fashion ( r = −0·42, P = 0·0032). No such relationship was seen for the blood flow change induced by SNP when related to EIDV ( r = −0·07, P = 0·63). Conclusion Simultaneous measurements of blood flow in forearm vessels by plethysmography and in the radial artery by ultrasound during AC h infusion is a new way to assess EDV in both resistance and conduit arteries during one investigation.