Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Increased pulse wave velocity (PWV) has a U-shaped relation with low <0.9 and high >1.3 abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI). Increased PWV and abnormal ABI are associated with increased stroke risk. Transient Ischaemic Attack increases the 90-day stroke risk by 20–50%. Studies of PWV in TIA, however, are limited.

Methods: A detailed medical history was taken from 17 TIA patients and 28 controls. PWV was measured using the Vicorder, and ABI using the Vicorder and Doppler. Blood samples were taken. The data was split according to PWV measurements into low PWV (<10 m/s) and high PWV (>10 m/s) and the associations were studied

Results: In the age and sex matched groups, compared to controls, more TIA patients reported intermittent claudication (P=0.05), current smoking (P=0.04), alcohol consumption (P=0.03) and had lower left Doppler ABI (1.10+/−0.16 vs 0.99+/−0.17; P=0.024). Serum glucose was higher (5.6+/−0.98 vs 5.3+/−2.3; P=0.035) and HDL lower (1.70+/−1.65 vs 1.14+/−0.29; P=0.014) in TIA patients. More TIA patients were taking antiplatelet (P=<0.001), antihypertensive (P=0.005) and cholesterol-lowering medications (P=0.01). There was no significant difference in PWV. PWV correlated to age, BMI and heart rate in all 45 patients, but only to HBA1c in TIA patients. High PWV (>10 m/s) patients were older (P=0.015), had significantly lower right ABI from the Vicorder (1.16+/−0.10 vs 1.06+/−0.15; P=0.016) and Doppler (1.08+/−0.11 vs 0.96+/−0.20; P=0.04) compared to low PWV (<10m/s) and more were taking antihypertensive medications.

Conclusions: There was clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in the TIA group with low left ABI. High PWV was associated with low right ABI. There was no association of PWV with TIA. PWV needs more evaluation in TIA patients.

Declaration of interest: There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Funding: No specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.