Evaluation of aortic stiffness with an oscillometric arteriograph device in patients with hypertension and ascending aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare central blood pressure, central pulse pressure, and parameters like augmentation index and pulse wave velocity, which are used to evaluate arterial stiffness using an oscillometric method called arteriography, among hypertensive patients with and without concomitant ascending aortic aneurysms.

METHODS

This research was conducted as a single-center and prospective study. A total of 83 patients were included in this study, including 44 consecutive patients with hypertension diagnosed and an ascending aortic diameter of 40 mm or more detected by 2D transthoracic echocardiography, and 39 controls with hypertension diagnosed and a normal ascending aortic diameter.

RESULTS

E/e' ratio was found to be significantly higher in the aneurysm group (9.05±2.24 vs. 7.75±1.94, p<0.05). The difference between peripheral and central systolic blood pressures was found to be significantly lower in the aneurysm group compared to the control group (9.3±4.5 vs. 11.8±4.1, p<0.05, respectively). Among the examined arterial stiffness parameters, augmentation index values were significantly higher in the aneurysm group (27±8.7 vs. 22.7±9.6, p<0.05), while pulse wave velocity did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups (8.85±1.85 vs. 8.59±1.19, p>0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that a potential relationship between the development of ascending aortic aneurysm and elevated aortic stiffness in hypertensive patients.