Comparison of flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation and carotid intima-media thickness in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Objective:Brachial artery FMD is lower and carotid artery IMT is thicker in CAD,but it is still not known if these markers can be used to diagnose CAD.We examined whether CAD can be detected by brachial artery FMD and carotid artery IMT.Methods:For the patients undergoing coronary angiography with CAD risk factors and typical clinical presentation,fifty patienes selected as CAD group with coronary angiography diagnosis of CAD,Fifty were selected as control group with coronary angiography diagnosis of having no CAD.Brachial artery FMD and carotid artery IMT were measured for the selected patients respectively,based on univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis,we can see if brachial artery FMD and carotid artery IMT can be used to diagnose CAD.Results:Brachial artery FMD was lower and carotid artery IMT was thicker in CAD group than in control group,based on univariate analysis,the factors associated with the presence of CAD were hypercholesterolemia,diabetes mellitus,brachial artery FMD and carotid artery IMT.Multivariate logistic regression analysis using these factors demonstrated that brachial artery FMD was the only predictor for the detection of CAD.FMD6% can be used to diagnose CAD with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 88%.Conclusion:The findings suggest that FMD but not IMT may be used to diagnose CAD.