RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity has been recently proposed as a noninvasive means for assessing endotheial function. This endothelial function is impaired in certain cardiovascular conditions, including essential hypertension. METHODS: The study population included 50 healthy subjects aged 22 to 62 years (mean+/-SD, 42+/-12 years), all normotensive, nondiabetic with cholesterol level 0.05). 4) Flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in patients with essential hypertension than in normotensive control subjects (4.2+/-0.8 vs. 7.3+/-1.3 %, p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that 1) in men older than 40 years, flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery was declined, 2) longer brachial artery occlusion resulted in more vasodilation despite similar hyperemic responses, 3) using low (30 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure) and high (70-90 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure) pressure, each pressure of occlusion was similar hyperemic response, and 4) in patients with essential hypertension, flow-medeiated vasodilation was significantly impaired and IMT was increased than in normotensive control subjects.