system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, RESULTS. Meshes: Angina Pectoris, Variant, Biomarkers, Blood Flow Velocity, Brachial Artery, C-Reactive Protein, Carotid Arteries, Coronary Angiography, Endothelium, Vascular, Female, Homocysteine, Humans, Leukocyte Count, Male, Middle Aged, Pulse, Risk Factors, Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, Ultrasonography, Vasodilation.
user
Are endothelial dysfunction , increased carotid artery intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity , and increased level of inflammatory markers associated with variant angina? Context: Endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation may be associated with variant angina (VA). Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are widely used as non-invasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. A total of 254 patients with chest pain were divided into three groups according to coronary angiogram (CAG) finding. There were 76 patients (VA group: 53.5+/-10.2 years, 41 males) with normal CAG with positive ergonovine-provocation test (EPT), 58 patients (control group: 55.3+/-8.7 years, 30 males) with normal CAG with negative EPT, and 120 patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD group: 56.3+/-9.7 years, 79 males). The level of FMD was lower in the VA group than in the control group (7.7+/-3.5% vs. 9.4+/-3.8%, p=0.014). Carotid IMT was higher in the VA group than in the control group (0.58+/-0.1 mm vs. 0.54+/-0.1 mm, p=0.029). The brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) was higher in the VA group than in the control group (1445.3+/-211.8 cm/s vs. 1396.7+/-394.5 cm/s, p=0.020). The levels of monocyte cell counts was higher in patients of the VA group than in the other two groups (7545.7+/-2611.1/mm(3) vs. 6548.2+/-2156.4/mm(3) vs. 6740.9+/-1730.4/mm(3), p=0.015, respectively; monocyte cell counts: 657.2+/-242.6/mm(3) vs. 442.5+/-219.3/mm(3) vs. 490.0+/-172.0/mm(3), p=0.025).
assistant
VA is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid IMT, baPWV, and inflammatory markers. Final Decision: yes