PARAMETERS OF BRACHIAL ARTERY REACTIVE HYPEREMIA TEST IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS

Purpose: Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is a diffuse disease process resulting in abnormal regulation of blood vessel tone and loss of several atheroprotective effects of the normal endothelium. Systemic vascular endothelial function can be evaluated through measuring brachial arterial vasodilatation (physiologic answer to reactive hyperemia after transient ischemia), using high-resolution ultrasonography. The aim of the present study was to investigate the parameters of endothelial function in diabetic patients. Methods and Materials: 24 type 2 diabetic patients (average duration of diabetes 8.1±2.2 years) and 14 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were included in the study; all subjects underwent measurements of 1) change in diameter of brachial artery (D %; M-mode) and change in maximal systolic velocity in this artery (V %; pulsed wave dopplerography) before and after test with reactive hyperemia, 2) intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery (B-mode). Results: The results are shown in table. Table: IMT (mm) D (%) V (%) Normals 0.8±0.02 + 9.58±0.5 + 34.2±7.0 Diabetic patients 0.82±0.03 + 10.26±0.51 - 45.08±5.41 p p>0.05 p>0.05 p<0.001 Conclusions: As we see from table, there were no differences in parameter of intima media thickness and increase in diameter of brachial artery during reactive hyperemia in compared groups. At the same time, the systolic velocity of flow in brachial artery after transient ischemia in patients did not even increase, but significantly decreased. The reason for disproportional changes in brachial artery lumen and velocity of blood flow in diabetic patients can be inadequate vasodilatation of peripheral arterioles.