Flow-mediated dilation in patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the endothelium dependent FMD of the brachial artery in patients with LVDD. Endothelial function was assessed in 36 male patients (mean age 49+/-6 years) with LVDD due to CAD (22 patients) and essential hypertension (14 patients) as well as in 18 male patients (control group) without LVDD (12 patients with CAD and 6 with hypertension) of matched age. Our studies had showed significant decrease of FMD in patients with LVDD compared to those without LVDD (4.67%+/-1.68 vs. 6.12%+/-2.54, p<0.05). At the same time FMD in both groups appeared to be significantly lower than in healthy subjects. Post-ISDN vasodilation was almost similar in both groups of patients and lower than in controls. The post-ISDN vasodilatation did not differ regarding presence of LVDD or causative disease (CAD or arterial hypertension) and its extent was lower than in healthy controls. A weak correlation was found between FMD and post-ISDN vasodilatation (r=0.231, p>0.05). Data obtained suggest that endothelial dysfunction exists in patients with diastolic dysfunction. Based on these results it is considered that patients with early stages CAD and arterial hypertension depressed FMD might be indicator of LVDD.