Endothelial cell function in patients with Down's syndrome

Am J Cardiol. 2004 Aug 1;94(3):392-5. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.04.047.

Abstract

Patients with Down's syndrome show an increased pulmonary vascular reactivity that could be due to an impaired vascular endothelial function, which is possibly related to increased oxidative stress. In 8 patients with Down's syndrome and 9 euploid patients of similar age, endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation was studied, measuring brachial flow velocity with an intravascular Doppler flow wire. Patients with Down's syndrome showed a significant impairment of endothelial function versus controls. In presence of the antioxidant vitamin C, endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the patients with Down's syndrome was only slightly, but not significantly, improved.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / administration & dosage
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Ascorbic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Brachial Artery / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Down Syndrome / complications*
  • Down Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Endothelium, Vascular / diagnostic imaging
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nitroglycerin / administration & dosage
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology*
  • Probability
  • Reference Values
  • Risk Assessment
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed
  • Vasodilation / drug effects
  • Vasodilation / physiology*

Substances

  • Nitroglycerin
  • Acetylcholine
  • Ascorbic Acid