Study on endothelial dependent vasodilation function of brachial artery in renal allograft recipients

Objective To detect the endothelial dependent vasodilation function of brachial artery in renal allograft recipients. Methods Using high resolution ultrasound, the inner diameter and changes of diameter of brachial artery at rest, after reactive hyperemia and sublingual nitroglycerin were measured in 20 cyclosporine treated allograft recipients, 20 FK 506 treated allograft recipients and 20 controls, reactive hyperemia mediated vasodilation was measured to assess endothelial dependent vasodilation, nitroglycerin mediated vasodilation was measured to assess endothelial independent vasodilation, in order know if the endothelial function was injuried by comparing the endothelial dependent and endothelial independent vasodilation. Results After reactive hyperemia, the absolute and relative values(reactive increase) in brachial artery inner diameter were significantly reduced in renal allograft recipients, nitroglycerin mediated vasodilation was similar between renal allograft recipients and controls. There was no significant difference of the inner diameter of brachial artery in renal allograft recipients treated with cyclosporine and FK 506 after reactive hyperemia. Conclusions The endothelial dependent vasodilation function of brachial artery was injuried in renal allograft recipients.