Non-invasive ultrasonic study of maximal aortic blood acceleration in patients with borderline and sustained essential hypertension.
Using a pulsed Doppler method to evaluate the aortic velocity curve transcutaneously, the maximal aortic blood acceleration was evaluated in normal subjects and in age-matched patients with borderline and sustained essential hypertension. Maximal aortic blood acceleration was significantly elevated in patients with borderline hypertension and remained within the normal range in patients with sustained hypertension. Since maximal aortic blood acceleration is relatively insensitive to preload and afterload, these findings might give indirect information on the contractile state of the myocardium in patients with hypertension.
Lacolley
P
P
Diagnosis Center, Broussais Hospital, Paris, France.
Pannier
B
B
Levy
B
B
Laurent
S
S
London
G
G
Safar
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged