Non-Invasive Assessment of Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation Function in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Aim:To study the endothelium dependent vasodilation function in patients with essential hypertension(EH). Methods:B mode ultrasonography was used to measure the change in diameter of the brachial artery before and after the reactive hyperemia and sublingual administration of nitroglycerin in 26 patients with EH and 12 matched healthy subjects. Results:Despite similar ages and lipid and glucose levels in 2 groups,the increased percentage of the brachial artery diameter after reactive hyperemia was lower in patients with EH than that in normal controls (12.5%±4.3% vs 17.8%±6.0%, P 0 01),whereas nitroglycerin induced changes were similar (\{19.4\}%±6.7% vs 21.2%±6.9%, P 0 05). Conclusion:Patients with EH had impaired endothelium dependent vasodilation function even without significant evidence of atherosclerosis.