Brachial Artery Vasodilator Function and Systemic Inflammation in the Framingham Offspring Study

Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that risk factors induce a state of inflammation that impairs vascular function. For flow-mediated dilation, we found no evidence that inflammation has additional effects beyond those attributable to traditional risk factors. The incremental contribution of CRP, IL-6, and sICAM-1 to reactive hyperemia above and beyond known risk factors suggests that systemic inflammation may contribute to impaired vasomotor function in forearm microvessels.