Study on the correlation between the intima-media thichness and ednothelial function of carotid in essential hypertension patients by ultrasound

【Objective】 To access brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilation and carotid arterial intima-media thickness in patienta with hypertension using ultrasonography.【Methods】 Blood flow mediated endothelium dependent brachial artery dilation(EDD),carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and plaques were mearsured by high-resolution ultrasonography in 60 patients with essential hypertension and 30 healthy subjects.【Results】 Carotid arterial IMT and the incidence of carotid plaques in patients with essential hypertension were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects(p0.01).The expanding degree of brachial artery intemal diameter under reactive hyperemia siluation was decreasing with IMT increasing,that is carotid arterial IMT showed a significant negative correlation with brachial artery EDD(r=-0.646,P0.01).【Conclusion】 Brachial endothelium-dependent dilation is impaired and carotid arterial IMT is thickened in patients with hypertension.Carotid arterial IMT is associated with impairment of brachial endothelium-dependent dilation.The carotid IMT and endothelial dependent vasodilation function in brachial arteries have the early diagnostic value with peripheral arteriosclerosis of hypertension patients.