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.