Effect of Smoking on Endothelial Function and Wall Thickness of Brachial Artery

• Published in: Circulation Journal Vol. 68; no. 12; pp. 1123 - 1126
• Main Authors: Esen, Ali Metin, Barutcu, Irfan, Acar, Murat, Degirmenci, Bumin, Kaya, Dayimi, Turkmen, Muhsin, Melek, Mehmet, Onrat, Ersel, Esen, Ozlem Batukan, Kirma, Cevat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Circulation Society 2004
• Subjects: Acute smoking; Administration, Sublingual; Adult; Brachial Artery - diagnostic imaging; Brachial Artery - drug effects; Brachial Artery - physiopathology; Brachial artery wall thickness; Case-Control Studies; Endothelial function; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Male; Nitroglycerin - administration & dosage; Nitroglycerin - pharmacology; Regional Blood Flow; Smoking - adverse effects; Ultrasonography; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents - administration & dosage; Vasodilator Agents - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1346-9843; 1347-4820
• DOI: 10.1253/circj.68.1123

Background Impaired flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and increased wall thickness (WT) of the brachial artery have been associated with atherosclerosis and its risk factors. In this study we sought to determine brachial artery wall thickness in chronic smokers and the instantaneous effect of smoking on brachial artery endothelium dependent vasodilator function in smokers and non-smokers. Method and Results Using a high-resolution ultrasound, WT of posterior brachial artery wall, the diameter of brachial artery at rest and during reactive hyperemia (FMD %), as well as after sublingual administration of nitroglycerine (nitroglycerine mediated dilatation (NMD) %) was measured in 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers. Wall thickness (WT) of the posterior brachial artery wall and the wall index (WI) were greater in smokers than non-smokers. The baseline brachial artery diameter was comparable in smokers and non-smokers. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) was found to be less in smokers than non-smokers. The NMD in smokers also did not differ significantly from that in non-smokers. Flow mediated dilation significantly reduced after smoking compared to baseline in both groups. However, NMD remained unchanged after smoking in both groups. Conclusions Increased WT and impaired endothelium-dependent dilatation of brachial artery suggests that cigarette smoking disrupts vessel wall morphology long before atherosclerosis is manifest. (Circ J 2004; 68: 1123 - 1126)