Objective    To investigate the bilateral flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery (BA-FMD) and nitroglycerin mediated dilation (BA-NMD) in patients with cerebral infarct

and to find out if the vasodilation of internal catotid artery after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin can be detected as a more direct way to reflect the vasodilation in patients with cerebral vascular diseases.     Methods    High resolution ultrasonic system was used to measure 13 patients with acute cerebral infarction. The diameter of brachial artery

internal carotid artery and common carotid artery was measured at relaxation

reactive congestion in the brachial artery and after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. Meanwhile

the intima media thickness (IMT) and plaques of carotid artery was detected.     Results    Paralysis did not lead to differences in vasodilation of brachial artery (r=0.52

P=0.07). There was a correlation between ICA-NMD and BA-NMD (r=0.83

P=0.01).     Conclusion    There were no significant differences between brachial vasodilation in paretic and non-paretic limbs of patients with acute cerebral infarction. Ultrasonic measurement of ICA-NMD can be a more direct measure of the vasodilation of patients with cerebral infarction.