Ultrasonographic study on variations of vascular endothelial function and carotid arterial intima-media thickness in patients with hypertension

Objective To access brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilation and carotid arterial intima-media thickness in patients with hypertension using ultrasonography. Methods Blood flow mediated endothelium-dependent brachial artery dilation (EDD),nitroglycerin induced endothelium-independent brachial artery dilation (NEDD),and carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques were mearsured by high-resolution ultrasonography in 24 patients with essential hypertension and 18 healthy subjects. Results EDD in patients with hypertension was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects (P0.001).No significant difference was found in NEDD between patients with hypertension and healthy subjects.Carotid arterial IMT and the incidence of carotid plaques in patients with essential hypertension were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (P0.001 and P0.05 respectively).Carotid arterial IMT showed a significant negative correlation with EDD (r=-0.596,P0.001). Conclusion Brachial endothelium-dependent dilation is impaired and more serious carotid atherosclerosis is found in patients with hypertension.Carotid arterial IMT is associated with impairment of brachial endothelium-dependent dilation.