Is impaired flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery a cardiovascular risk factor?

Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2003 Jun;1(2):107-9. doi: 10.2174/1570161033476745.

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Over the past decade, a non-invasive technique has evolved to evaluate flow-mediated vasodilation ([FMD), an endothelium-dependent function, in the brachial artery. FMD decreases with increasing age and subjects with diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smokers and hypertension have decreased FMD. There are a few concise studies reporting that FMD predicts cardiovascular events. However, the assumption that focal measurement of brachial artery FMD predicts coronary artery disease deserves further investigation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brachial Artery / physiopathology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Vasodilation / physiology*