NONINVASIVE INVESTIGATION OF ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA (HCE)

Aim. Functional assessment of endothelium by endothelium-dependent and non-endothelium dependent response of the brachial artery (BA) in pat ients with risk factors for atherosclerosis. Materials and methods. Th e ACUSON 128 XP/10 unit furnished with linear meter with phase grid (7 .0 MHZ) was employed in two-direction scanning merle to measure BA dia meter at rest, under reactive hyperemia (endothelium-dependent respons e) and after sublingual intake of 0.01 mg of nitroglycerin (non-endoth elium-dependent response) in 12 patients with blood hypertension (grou p 3), 10 subjects with family hypercholesterolemia (group 2) and 10 he althy subjects (group 1, control). Results. The flow-dependent dilatat ion remained unchanged in BH patients (9.4%) and lowered in HCE patien ts (3.0%) compared to controls (9.5%). Nitroglycerin-induced dilatatio n was not significantly different in patients with family hypercholest erolemia (16.6%), hypertensive subjects (14.5%) and healthy controls ( 20.5%). Conclusion. The ultrasound method of detection of endothelial dysfunction is demonstrated. Endothelial dysfunction in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia may contribute to development of atheros clerosis.