Flow-dependent vasomotor dysfunction of the popliteal artery related to common carotid artery intima-media thickness

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.