ASSOCIATION OF ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN MICROCIRCULATION USING LASER SPECKLE CONTRAST ANALYSIS WITH MARKERS OF ARTERIAL STIFFNESS. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lazaridis, A.; Gkaliagkousi, E.; Koletsos, N.; Nikolaidou, B.; Anyfanti, P.; Dolgyras, P.; Vamvakis, A.; Triantafyllou, A.; Dipla, K.; Douma, S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hypertension. Volume 36(2018)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000539257.96723.2d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5598

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Endothelial dysfunction has a key role in microcirculation promoting very early structural and vascular alterations that precede any clinically detectable vascular damage and contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. Small artery alterations though are interdependent with large artery lesions and interact in a vicius cycle that sustains and exaggerates vascular damage. It has been speculated that a common denominator in that cross-talk between micro- and macrocirculation is endothelial dysfunction. In this study we evaluated the association of endothelial dysfunction of skin microcirculation using Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis (LASCA) with central blood pressures (cBP) as recorded with the Mobil-O-Graph device, in treatment-naïve hypertensive patients. Design and method: We studied a group of 31 untreated, hypertensive patients with new-onset essential hypertension, without cardiovascular comorbidities, mean age 50.3 ± 18.5 years. Central BPs were recorded in all subjects using the Mobil-O-Graph NG (IEM, Stolberg, Germany) device. In addition, microvascular blood flow of the skin forearm was evaluated using LASCA (PeriCam PSI NR System, Perimed Järfälla, Sweden). Results of microvascular flow are expressed as baseline Cutaneous Vascular Conductance (CVC), peak CVC and peak CVC minus baseline CVC. Pearson's and Spearman's correlations were used, based on the variable's normality of distribution. Results: We observed a significant negative correlation between peak CVC and 24-hour cBP (r = −564 for central systolic BP [cSBP], r = −458 for central diastolic BP [cDBP]), day cSBP (r = −560), day cDBP (r = −466) and night cSBP (r = −457) (p < 0.05). In addition, peak CVC minus baseline CVC showed a significant negative correlation will all cBP parameters (p < 0.05). Baseline CVC showed a significant negative correlation with 24-h cSBP (r = −482) and day cSBP (r = −488) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A significant inverse relationship was revealed between most central BP parameters and markers of endothelial dysfunction of skin microcirculation in treatment-naïve patients with new onset essential hypertension. In this group of patients, the endothelial dysfunction of skin microcirculation may be already associated with a higher central hemodynamic load although the exact cause and effect relationship of this bidirectional communication between small and large arteries has not been fully elucidated yet.