Impaired endothelial function in hypertensive elderly patients evaluated by high resolution ultrasonography.

Abstract

This study showed decreased FMD with aging even in the healthy elderly, with a further decline in hypertensive elderly compared with healthy elderly subjects. This impairment of FMD in the hypertensive elderly group was related to age and mean blood pressure, indicating that aging and hypertension may impair endothelial function in the brachial artery of elderly patients with hypertension.