A novel echocardiographic method as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary slow flow

H. Simsek, M. Sahin, Y. Gunes, S. Akdag, M.A. Akil, A. Akyol, H.A. Gumrukcuoglu, M. Yaman

Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzunci Yil University, Van, Turkey. dr.hsimsek@hotmail.com

 

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• Cardiology

BACKGROUND: To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is considered the first stage in the development of atherosclerosis. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) has been impaired in patients with coronary slow flow (CSF). Recently, color M-mode derived propagation velocity of descending thoracic aorta (aortic propagation velocity-AVP) was shown to be an ultrasonographic marker for atherosclerosis.

AIM: To assess endothelial function in patients with CSF and the correlation of AVP with FMD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: FMD and AVP were measured in 90 patients with CSF and 39 patients having normal coronary arteries (NCA) detected by coronary angiography.

RESULTS: Compared to patients with normal coronary arteries patients having CSF had significantly lower AVP (39.1±8.4 vs. 53.7±12.7 cm/s, p < 0.001) and FMD (5.6±3.2 vs. 17.6±4.4 %, p < 0.001) measurements. There were significant correlations between AVP and FMD (r = 0.524, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Transthoracic echocardiographic determination of color M-mode propagation velocity of descending aorta is a simple practical method and correlates well with coronary slow flow and brachial endothelial function.

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