Value of ultrasonography in the examination of vascular endothelial function in patients with first cerebral infarction

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasonography in the examination of vascular endothelium-dependent vasodilation function in patients with first cerebral infarction. Methods Totally 97 cases of hypertension with first cerebral infarction (hypertension group) and 46 cases of control without hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were examined with color Doppler ultrasonography. The vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation of brachial artery in two groups was examined and compared. Results The change percent of brachial artery diameter induced by reactive hyperemia was significantly lower in hypertension group than that in the control group (p0.01). There was no statistical difference of the change percent of brachial artery diameter induced by nitroglycerin between the hypertension group and control group (p0.05). Conclusion There is vascular endothelium-dependent vasodilation dysfunction in patients of hypertension with first cerebral infarction. It is important to evaluate the vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation with ultrasonography.