Key result
Double brachial artery linked to ~35% lower FMD than single brachial artery.
Why the study?
Does the anatomical variation of a double brachial artery affect the measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation in healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular disease?
Cross-Sectional (n=424)
No
Does the anatomical variation of a double brachial artery affect the measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation in healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular disease?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.7% vs 7.2%
p-value: p=<0.01
The presence of a double brachial artery can lead to the underestimation of flow-mediated vasodilation in healthy subjects, highlighting the importance of checking for anatomical variations during endothelial function assessment.
Double brachial artery was associated with lower FMD in healthy subjects; leaves open whether anatomical screening is needed in endothelial function studies.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of anatomical variation of the brachial artery on flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of double brachial artery between healthy subjects (6.1%) and patients with CVD (6.5%). In healthy subjects, FMD was larger in a single brachial artery than in large and small vessels of a double brachial artery (7.2±3.4% vs. 4.7±3.3% and 4.5±2.5%, P<0.01, respectively). In patients with CVD, there were no significant differences in FMD among a single brachial artery, large vessel of a double brachial artery and small vessel of a double brachial artery (3.3±1.4%, 3.1±2.3% and 3.6±2.1%). FMD in a single brachial artery was smaller in patients with CVD than in healthy subjects. There were no significant differences in FMD in the large vessel of a double brachial artery between the 2 groups or in the small vessel of a double brachial artery between the 2 groups. Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation was similar in all arteries in healthy subjects and patients with CVD. CONCLUSIONS: When measuring FMD, the existence of a double brachial artery should be checked. FMD measured in a double brachial artery may be underestimated in healthy subjects.
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Fujii et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease and healthy subjects (n=424). Double brachial artery vs. Single brachial artery was evaluated on Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) (p=<0.01). In healthy subjects, flow-mediated vasodilation was significantly lower in the large and small vessels of a double brachial artery compared to a single brachial artery (4.7% and 4.5% vs. 7.2%, P<0.01).
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