Artery Research (Dec 2017)

P80 IDENTIFICATION OF RADIAL VASCULAR WALL ABNORMALITIES BY VERY-HIGH FREQUENCY ULTRASOUND IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA: THE FUCHSIA STUDY

  • Rosa Maria Bruno,
  • Nicole Di Lascio,
  • Daniela Guarino,
  • Saverio Vitali,
  • Piercarlo Rossi,
  • Davide Caramella,
  • Stephane Laurent,
  • Pierre Boutouryie,
  • Stefano Taddei,
  • Lorenzo Ghiadoni,
  • Francesco Faita

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.10.096
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20

Abstract

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Aim: This case-control study is aimed at identifying radial vascular wall abnormalities in patients with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). Methods: High-frequency ultrasound scans of radial arteries were obtained by VevoMD (70 MHz probe, FUJIFILM, VisualSonics). Radial wall showed two echogenic interfaces: the 1st (lumen-media) and the 2nd (media-adventitia). Intima-media (IMT), adventitia (AT), and global thickness (IMAT) and wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) Measured. Vascular wall disarray was assessed calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) between 20 gray-level profiles crossing the two interfaces and the profile obtained averaging them, normalized for the maximum value of the corresponding mean profile (RMSE/mean). Results: 11 treated hypertensive female FMD patients and 8 healthy controls (C) were enrolled (age 52±5 vs 45±13years, p = 0.51; BMI 26±3 vs 23±3kg/mg, p = 0.12; mean BP 97±7 vs 85±10 mmHg, p = 0.01). Radial lumen was similar; IMT (0.166±0.037 vs 0.128±0.022mm, p = 0.03), AT (0.114±0.029 vs 0.083±0.019mm, p = 0.008) and IMAT (0.281±0.042 vs 0.211±0.027mm, p = 0.003) were higher in FMD. Wall/lumen ratio was similar and WCSA increased in FMD. The maximum values of 1st (121±43 vs 157±22, p = 0.09) and 2nd interface 109±44 vs133±18, p = 0.09) tended to be lower, whereas RMSE/mean was higher in FMD (1st 1.31±0.24 vs 0.83±0.32, p = 0.006; 2nd 1.37±0.38 vs 0.94±0.32, p = 0.03). The difference was attenuated for the 1st but not for the 2nd interface when considering age and mean BP as covariates (p = 0.054 and p = 0.016 respectively). Conclusions: The radial artery wall of hypertensive FMD patients shows increased thickness and its ultrastructure is characterized of loss of echogenicity and inhomogeneity of the two echogenic layers.