ABSTRACT
Objective: flow associated dilatation [FXD%] and intima media thickness are established markers of early atherosclerosis. This study aimed to compare the ability of the non-invasive measurements FAD% and intima media thickness to predict coronary artery disease in asymptomatic diabetic males
Methods: B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess both intima media thickness in the common carotid artery and endothelial function in the brachial artery in 64 non-insulin dependent diabetic male patients asymptomatic for coronary artery disease. They were divided into two groups, Group A comprise patients with positive stress test, and group B patients with negative stress test. Brachial artery diameter was measured at rest, during reactive hyperemia, and after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin
Results: patients with positive exercise stress test had reduced FAD% compared with those with negative exercise stress test [4.4 +/- 0.67 v 5.8 +/- 1.1 5%. p<0.001], whereas intima media thick-ness tended to be increased in patients with positive exercise stress test but not statistically significant [1.1 +/- 0.16 v 0.96 +/- 0.0lmm, p > 0.05]. There was a negative correlation between FAD% and intima media thickness [r =-0.498, p <0.001]. Receiver operating character-istic analysis showed that FAD% > 4.6% predicted coronary artery disease with a sensitivity of 0.70 and a specificity of 0.87
Conclusions: brachial artery FMD may become a useful tool for screening diabetic male patients with suspected CALI while determination of increased intima media thickness is not useful in discrimina between presence or absence of coronary artery disease