Microvascular dysfunction and pulse wave reflection characterize different vascular pathologies in patients at cardiovascular risk

VASA. Zeitschrift für Gefässkrankheiten
Ulrich Fischer-RasokatStephan Fichtlscherer

Abstract

Endothelial function and arterial pulse wave reflections play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. While the endothelium-dependent reactive hyperemia index (RHI) of the digital arteries is considered as a marker of microvascular function, an increased augmentation index (AI) may indicate beginning macrovascular damage. In this study we assessed the interrelationships among these noninvasive measures of vascular function. In 178 all-comer patients with documented cardiovascular risk factors (22 % female; 65 % coronary artery disease, CAD), we measured radial AI (rAI) by radial applanation tonometry and digital AI (dAI) as well as RHI by using fingertip peripheral arterial tonometry. A modified SMART risk score was calculated in all participants based on cardiovascular risk factors and preexisting vascular disease. dAI and rAI demonstrated a significant and robust overall correlation (Pearson rank coefficient r = 0.63, p < 0.01), which was not affected by age, sex, diabetes mellitus and CAD. In contrast, both parameters demonstrated at most a weak correlation (dAI: r = 0.26, p < 0.01 and rAI: r = 0.12, p = 0.10) with microvascular function (RHI). While dAI and rAI were significantly correlated to female sex, age...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 26, 2013·European Journal of Pediatrics·Aagje PareynKristina Casteels
Oct 27, 2016·Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology = Albrecht Von Graefes Archiv Für Klinische Und Experimentelle Ophthalmologie·R HeitmarA D Blann

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