No evidence of endothelial dysfunction in patients with Alzheimer's disease

In view of accumulating evidence of vascular pathology in Alzheimer's disea se (AD), we tested the hypothesis that AD patients have impaired endothelia l function. This was assessed using the technique of strain-gauge venous oc clusion plethysmography, which measures forearm blood flow (FBF). Intra-art erial (brachial) infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside ( SNP) was used to assess local endothelial dependent and independent respons es, respectively. There was no difference in the basal FBF of patients and controls. ACh and SNP caused dose-related increases in FBF from baseline, b ut no difference was recorded between the AD and control group. This study provides no evidence of endothelial dysfunction in the systemic circulation of patients with AD. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.