Coexistence of Hypertension and Ascending Aortic Aneurysm: Can Aortic
Stiffness Be Evaluated with an Oscillometric Arteriograph Device?
Abstract
Objective: We aimed to compare central blood pressure, central
pulse pressure, and parameters like augmentation index (Aix) and pulse
wave velocity (PWV), which are used to evaluate arterial stiffness using
an oscillometric method called arteriography, among hypertensive
patients with and without concomitant ascending aortic aneurysms.
Methods: A total of 83 patients were included in this study,
including 44 consecutive patients with hypertension (HT) diagnosed and
ascending aortic (AA) diamater 40 mm or more detected by 2D
transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and 39 controls with HT diagnosed
and normal AA 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, Aix values were significantly higher in the aneurysm group
(27±8,7 vs 22,7±9,6, p<0.05), while PWV 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 the use of the osilometric arteriograph device is a
simple, cost-effective, and reliable method for assessing increased
aortic stiffness in patients coexistence HT and AA aneurysm. We also
mention an interesting point about the potential relationship between
the development of AA aneurysm and elevated aortic stiffness in
hypertensive patients.