J. Spacil et al., Flow-dependent vasomotor dysfunction of the popliteal artery related to common carotid artery intima-media thickness, ANGIOLOGY, 52(10), 2001, pp. 689-695
This study was designed to assess a possible correlation between flow-media
ted endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the popliteal artery and the inti
ma-media thickness of the common carotid artery. Impaired vasodilation is o
ne of early markers of atherosclerosis that has not been studied on the pop
liteal artery. An increase in intima-media thickness of the common carotid
artery is also considered to be an indication of early stages of atheroscle
rosis. With use of ultrasound, the diameter of the popliteal artery was mea
sured at rest and during reactive hyperemia after 5-minute arterial occlusi
on. Subsequently, the intima-media thickness was measured in left common ca
rotid arteries in 27 patients with hyperlipidemia, in 10 patients with conf
irmed coronary artery disease, and in 20 healthy individuals. In healthy in
dividuals, popliteal artery diameter increased by mean of 6.6 +/-3.5% (p <
0.01) in relation to hyperemia. In patients with hyperlipidemia before ther
apy and in patients with coronary disease, no increase in diameter occurred
(mean, 0.44% and -1.6%, respectively). The difference between healthy indi
viduals and patients was statistically significant at p < 0.001. The poplit
eal artery seems to respond similarly to the brachial artery. When comparin
g the change in popliteal artery diameter and intima-media thickness of com
mon carotid arteries, a strong negative correlation (r = -0.5713, p < 0.001
) was observed in all subjects.