Correlation between Proximal Abdominal Aortic Stiffness Measured by Ultrasound and Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesThe proximal portion of the abdominal aorta (AA) is characterized by minimal arteriosclerosis compared with other aortic segments. To assess the clinical usefulness of this characteristic, the correlation between ultrasonographically measured proximal AA stiffness and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was examined.Subjects and Methods285 subjects were analyzed, half with hypertension and half with normal blood pressure. Proximal AA was examined using ultrasonography; strain, distensibility, elastic modulus, and the stiffness index were determined. After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate, the relationships between baPWV and all these parameters were tested.ResultsThe mean age of the study subjects was 58.1±12.8 years and the mean BMI was 24.3±3.8 kg/cm2. 58.9% of the subjects were female. 42.8% were hypertensive subjects. Among the hypertensive subjects, 56.0% were taking antihypertensive medication. Adjusted partial correlation coefficients for the relationship between baPWV with strain, distensibility, elastic modulus, and the stiffness index of the proximal AA were -0.203 (p=0.01), -0.121 (p=0.129), 0.304 (p=0.0001), and 0.299 (p=0.0001), respectively, in normotensive subjects. In the multivariate analyses, such correlations were observed mainly in the normotensive group, whereas there was no association among hypertensive subjects regardless of antihypertensive medication status.ConclusionbaPWV is moderately correlated with the stiffness parameters for the proximal AA, mainly in normotensive subjects.

The Relationship between Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Arterial Stiffness in Korean Adults

“…Increased arterial stiffness, as measured by PWV, has been reported to be a significant predictor of CVD events and mortality 16–19) . Although carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV), a measure of arterial PWV throughout the entire aorta, is the most recognized and established index of central arterial stiffness 20) , the cfPWV has some limitations, such as requiring more than 20 minutes for measurement and exhibiting examiner variability 21) . Recently, a simple, automated device has become available to measure brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) using a volume-rendering method.…”

Cardiovascular risk assessment in children and adolescents with congenital solitary kidneys

“…Although they were stiffness parameters determined by different methods, PWV was only significantly correlated with Ep and Ep* in patients with CSK, who were the risky group for arterial stiffness. In a previous study, 39 brachial PWV measurements with a tonometer were correlated with strain, distensibility, and elastic modulus determined by echocardiographic measurements mainly in NT patients. In our healthy patients, echocardiographic elasticity and stiffness determinations were correlated with PWV but in the reverse direction than expected.…”

“…In our study, arterial stiffness determined by PWA was higher in patients with CSK, although abdominal aortic strain representing elasticity of the aorta, and Ep and Ep* representing stiffness of the aortic wall determined by echocardiography38 were similar between the groups.Although they were stiffness parameters determined by different methods, PWV was only significantly correlated with Ep and Ep* in patients with CSK, who were the risky group for arterial stiffness. In a previous study,39 brachial PWV measurements with a tonometer were correlated with strain, distensibility, and elastic modulus determined by echocardiographic measurements mainly in NT patients. In our healthy patients, echocardiographic elasticity and stiffness determinations were correlated with PWV but in the reverse direction than expected.…”

Clinical Significance and Therapeutic Implication of Nocturnal Hypertension: Relationship between Nighttime Blood Pressure and Quality of Sleep

“…Moreover, not only thickening of carotid intima but also formation of atheromatous plaque were more frequently observed in uncontrolled non-dipping hypertensive patients than in dippers 53). Although clinic, home and/or daytime ambulatory BP are well controlled, masked uncontrolled nocturnal hypertension was associated with increases in arterial stiffness, the plasma BNP level and the urinary albumin/excretion ratio, suggesting that nocturnal hypertension is an independent risk for future CVD events 50)54)55). In addition to progression of CVD in non-dippers, cerebrovascular events such as intracerebral hemorrhage or silent cerebral infarct are more common in nocturnal hypertension and subsequent brain atrophy and lacunar infarcts may leads to memory impairments, physical and cognitive dysfunction especially in elderly people 56).…”