Local transversal aortic strain is impaired in ascending aorta dilatation
Background:
Ascending aorta dilatation is found in 13% of hypertensive patients. Little is known about elastic properties of ascending aorta in such patients. Echo-based transverse aortic strain analysis can describe mechanical properties of ascending aorta but has never been applied to patients with ascending aorta dilatation.
Aim:
To assess mechanical properties of ascending aorta by transverse aortic strain analysis (as β2-stiffness index) in hypertensive patients with ascending aorta dilatation and association between mechanical properties of ascending aorta and cardiovascular damage.
Methods:
A total of 100 hypertensive outpatients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and assessment of pulse wave velocity (PWV). Strain analysis of ascending aorta was performed with echocardiographic speckle-tracking software. Patients were divided in three groups based on ascending aorta diameter: less than 40, 40–45, and at least 45 mm.
Results:
Beta-SI increased exponentially with ascending aorta dimensions (P
Source: Journal of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Tags: ORIGINAL PAPERS: Organ damage Source Type: research