PURPOSE: To assess peripheral vascular endothelial function in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) by using a noninvasive method: endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). METHODS: Forty patients with NTG and 40 healthy age- and sex-matched normal control subjects underwent measurement of FMD and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation (NMD) via high-resolution, two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonographic imaging of the brachial artery. The patients also underwent blood sampling for biochemistry, lipid profile, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) analysis. RESULTS: The NTG group exhibited significant impairment of FMD compared with the control group (NTG: 2.64% +/- 2.22%, control: 5.96% +/- 2.50%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of NTG was the strongest independent predictor of FMD. The lipid profile and hsCRP did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated impaired FMD in patients with NTG and the results provide evidence of a generalized peripheral vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with NTG.
PURPOSE: To assess peripheral vascular endothelial function in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) by using a noninvasive method: endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). METHODS: Forty patients with NTG and 40 healthy age- and sex-matched normal control subjects underwent measurement of FMD and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation (NMD) via high-resolution, two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonographic imaging of the brachial artery. The patients also underwent blood sampling for biochemistry, lipid profile, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) analysis. RESULTS: The NTG group exhibited significant impairment of FMD compared with the control group (NTG: 2.64% +/- 2.22%, control: 5.96% +/- 2.50%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of NTG was the strongest independent predictor of FMD. The lipid profile and hsCRP did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated impaired FMD in patients with NTG and the results provide evidence of a generalized peripheral vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with NTG.
Authors: Seong Hee Shim; Chan Yun Kim; Joon Mo Kim; Da Yeong Kim; Yang Jae Kim; Jeong Hun Bae; Ki Chul Sung Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2015-10-18 Impact factor: 3.411