Radial artery flow-mediated dilatation in heart failure patients: effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with an impaired flow-mediated vasodilation that reflects an impaired endothelial function. Limited information is available, however, on whether and to what extent this impairment is improved by pharmacological or nonpharmacological treatment. We measured radial artery diameter and blood flow by an echo-tracking Doppler device both at baseline and after 4 minutes of hand ischemia, which increases diameter through NO secretion mediated by an increase in flow and shear stress.

Local effects of atherosclerotic plaque on arterial distensibility.

Hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia are characterized by a reduction in arterial distensibility and by accelerated atherosclerosis. Whether arterial stiffening is an inherent feature of these conditions or just the consequence of the atherosclerotic clinical or subclinical lesions is not known, however. Our aim was to obtain information on this issue by directly measuring, in humans, arterial distensibility both at the site of an atherosclerotic lesion and at the proximal normal site.

Progression of functional and structural cardiac alterations in young normotensive uncomplicated patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: We have recently observed that in young, normotensive patients with a type I diabetes mellitus and no macro or microvascular complications, large artery structure and function are already altered. This study has been done to assess whether this condition is also characterized by early alterations in cardiac structure and function, and whether these alterations progress with time.

Design And Methods: In 56 insulin-treated, normotensive uncomplicated type I diabetic patients (age 35.

Progression of large artery structural and functional alterations in Type I diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus is accompanied by reduced arterial distensibility and increased arterial wall thickness even in normotensive subjects with no micro-macrovascular complications. It is not known whether, and how fast, these subclinical markers of vascular damage develop over time.

Methods: We measured arterial wall distensibility in radial, common carotid artery and abdominal aorta in 60 normotensive patients (aged 35.

Effects of physical training of the dominant arm on ipsilateral radial artery distensibility and structure.

Background: Exercise training induces cardiovascular changes that are both generalized and restricted to the microcirculation of the tissues more actively involved in the exercise itself. Whether the local effect of exercise extends to larger arteries is unknown, however.

Methods: In the right and left upper limb of 17 right-handed subjects performing an asymmetric training of the upper limbs (hammer throwers and baseball players) and 16 age-matched sedentary controls, we continuously measured radial artery diameter, distensibility and wall thickness by an echotracking and a beat-to-beat finger blood pressure device.