T. Nishihira, M. Yamamoto, H. Takekawa, K. Suzuki, Y. Asakawa, A. Iwasaki, M. Okamura, K. Hirata
Dokkyo Medical University – Mibu, Japan

Objective: Recent studies have suggested increased diameters of the brachial artery may be a useful indicator for subclinical coronary artery diseases, and central artery dilation such as common carotid artery are associated with arteriosclerosis. However it remains unclear in patients with cerebral infarction. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the diameters of brachial artery (BAD) and common carotid artery (CAD) in patients with cerebral infarction.

Material and Methods: Thirty-three patients with acute atherothrombotic brain infarction (group ATBI), 33 cardiogenic cerebral embolism (group CE) and 31 normal controls (group NC) were enrolled. BAD and CAD at the end-diastolic phase were measured in each group by ultrasonography. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Scheffe’s post-hoc test was used to compare differences among three groups.

Results: With regard to the ultrasonographic findings, BAD was significantly higher in the group ATBI than group CE and NC (median value; 5.3mm, 4.4mm and 4.5mm, respectively), and CAD was also significantly higher in the group ATBI than group CE and NC (median value; 8.5mm, 8.1mm and 7.1mm, respectively). In addition, the CAD was higher in the group CE than group NC.

Discussion: Based on these results, greater BAD may reflect subclinical atherosclerosis and BAD can be used as a useful parameter for differentiating ATBI from CE.

Key words: brachial artery diameter, common carotid artery diameter, differential diagnosis.