2023
, Q2
Article
The endothelium plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular pathology, so that revealing its dysfunction can predict outcomes of the disease. However, the correct assessment of the endothelial function remains an unsolved problem. Registration of endothelium dependent vasodilation in response to nitric oxide synthesis using available noninvasive technologies does not show sufficient specificity and sensitivity, although it helps to detect its differences in population studies. In this pilot study, we compared the dynamics of microcirculation of the forearm skin and its spectral parameters during mild heating (up to 42 °С) between groups of smokers (n = 17) and non-smokers (n = 21) using imaging photoplethysmography synchronized with electrocardiography. The study included healthy men with similar anthropometric characteristics at the age of 51 ± 8 years and 48 ± 13 years, respectively. During the comparative analysis, no intergroup difference was found in the perfusion increase in either the axon- or endothelial-related phases of the reaction to local hyperemia. However, it was revealed that the power spectral density in the frequency band 0.01–0.02 Hz is significantly smaller in smokers than in non-smokers only during the phase of endothelium induced vasodilation: 4.0 ± 1.1 versus 5.3 ± 1.2 rel.un., respectively (P = 0.005). At the same time, no difference in the spectral power in the same band was observed during the axon-mediated phase, thus indicating high sensitivity and selectivity for assessment of the nitric oxide dependent vascular reactivity. The obtained results can be used for noninvasive evaluation of other cardiometabolic risk factors for early prediction and timely prevention of adverse outcomes by optimizing and intensifying treatment.