Objective: 

The endothelium plays a vital role on the control of vascular functions. Clinically revealed, non-uniform distribution of peripheral vascular diseases throughout the arterial tree suggests that localized factors such as hemodynamic forces can modulate the endothelial dysfunction. The Doppler blood flow measurement in the lower extremities has become a routine procedure, however, there is limited knowledge concerning bilateral differences of blood flow pattern. Therefore we examined blood flow patterns of femoral arteries (superficial femoral-SFA; deep femoral- DFA) in paired legs.

Methods: 

Young, physically inactive, healthy volunteers (10 females, 5 males; age 21.2 ± 2.6 years) participated in this study. During rest conditions beat-per-beat arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), blood velocity (TAM), and artery diameter (D) were registered from SFA and DFA in the left and right leg by an ultrasound Doppler. The mean blood flow (Q), anterograde and retrograde mean blood velocities (TAMa), anterograde (TAMr) and retrograde shear rates as well as oscillatory shear index rates were computed and compared for both legs.

Results: 

During entire recording systemic hemodynamic parameters were similar for all subjects (MAP: 92.1±5.2 mmHg, HR: 65.3±5 bpm). There was a significant bilateral asymmetry for flow parameters in DFA: D=10.1%, Q=30.4%, TAM=24.2%, TAMa=30.3%, TAMr=14.5%; SFA:D=3.3%, Q=20.1%, TAM=23.3%, TAMa=21.1%, TAMr=10.2%. We observed correlation between flow differences in SFA and DFA for paired leg.

Conclusions: 

The asymmetrical values of hemodynamic parameters between the femoral arteries in paired legs are observed in even healthy, young individuals who perform low level daily physical activity. Possibly, hydrodynamic factors which influence the endothelium are asymmetrical.