Open AccessThe Relationship Between Flow‐Mediated Dilatation of the Brachial Artery and Intima‐Media Thickness of the Carotid Artery to Framingham Risk Scores in Older African Americans
Author(s) -
Kwagyan John,
Hussein Saifudin,
Xu Shichen,
Ketete Muluemebet,
Maqbool Abid R.,
Schneider Robert H.,
Randall Otelio S.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2009.00175.x
Subject(s) - medicine , reactive hyperemia , cardiology , brachial artery , intima media thickness , framingham risk score , endothelial dysfunction , subclinical infection , common carotid artery , tunica media , coronary artery disease , blood pressure , carotid arteries , blood flow , disease
The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of flow‐mediated dilatation and intima‐media thickness (IMT) with coronary risk in African Americans (AAs). Endothelial dysfunction and IMT of carotid arteries are considered early steps in atherosclerotic disease process and have been used as surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Data were collected on 106 AAs with a mean age of 64.0±6.6 years. Carotid artery IMT was measured with B‐mode ultrasonography, as was brachial artery diameter at rest, during reactive hyperemia, and after nitroglycerin. Percent change in flow‐mediated dilatation (%FMD) was defined as 100×(diameter during reactive hyperemia – resting diameter)/resting diameter. Percent change in nitroglycerin‐mediated dilatation (%NMD) was defined as 100×(diameter with nitroglycerin‐resting diameter)/resting diameter. The Framingham 10‐year risk score (FRS) was calculated for each patient using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) risk score calculator and participants were categorized into 3 groups with FRS as <10%, 10% to 20%, and >20%. Thirty‐eight participants had risk scores <10%, 26 had 10% to 20%, and 42 >20%. There was a significant inverse relation between %FMD and FRS (P <.0001 ) and between %NMD and FRS (P <.001 ). IMT was not statistically different among the risk groups. Endothelial dysfunction assessed by FMD significantly correlates inversely with FRS in AAs. FMD, an index of arterial compliance, appears to be a sensitive and reliable index of cardiovascular disease.