- Abstract -

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases up to 3-fold the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interrelations between MetS components and parameters of subclinical expression of CVD as carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) are poorly understood, especially in patients with low cardiovascular risk.

Objectives. We aim to study the relationship between biological markers (HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides) and ultrasound parameters (left ventricular diastolic function, IMT, FMD) in patients with MetS and low cardiovascular risk.
Materials and methods. We studied 49 patients with MetS and low cardiovascular risk, admitted in Internal Medicine Clinic of City Hospital of Timisoara between June 1, 2008 to September 1, 2009. All patients were performed: biological samples, echocardiography, carotid ultrasonography and determination of flow-mediated vasodilatation in the brachial artery.
Results. We did not find statistically significant correlations between biological and ultrasound data. The average IMT was 0.76 ± 0.16 mm. Atheromatous plaque was present in 14.28% of patients. The average FMD was 6.81 ± 3.92%. Impaired FMD was present in 79.58% of patients. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was present in 75.5% of patients.

Conclusions. The lack of correlations between biological and ultrasound data is due to minimal expression of disease in MetS patients of average age and low cardiovascular risk, difficult to detect with regular investigation means. FMD should be introduced in the evaluation of patients with cardiovascular risk because it diagnoses early endothelial dysfunction, the initial stage of CVD, and contributes to the primary prevention of CVD.
 

Key words: metabolic syndrome, FMD, IMT, diastolic dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction, low cardiovascular risk.