[Evaluation of thoracic aortic anatomy and function with transesophageal echocardiography].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of age, gender, and hypertention on thoracic aortic anatomy and function in Chinese.


METHODS
Thoracic aortic diastolic and systolic diameter (Dd and Ds), intimal-medial thickness (IMT), Peterson's and Young's elastic modulus (Ep and Es), and stiffness index (beta) were measured by transesophageal echocardiography in 134 normal subjects and in 42 patients with hypertension.


RESULTS
Age was positively correlated with IMT (r = 0.68, P < 0.01), Dd(r = 0.65, P < 0.01), Ds(r = 0.58, P < 0.01), Ep(r = 0.82, P < 0.01), Es(r = 0.71, P < 0.01), beta(r = 0.67, P < 0.01). Men had a greater diameter and IMT than women. In comparison with the control group, the patients with hypertension had significantly increased Dd (20.73 +/- 2.80 mm vs 18.20 +/- 3.03 mm, P < 0.01), Ds (22.17 +/- 2.90 mm vs 19.81 +/- 2.93 mm, P < 0.01), IMT(1.39 +/- 0.66 mm vs 1.17 +/- 0.50 mm, P < 0.05), Ep(1.47 +/- 0.84 vs 0.81 +/- 0.66, P < 0.01), Es(11.91 +/- 8.04 vs 6.49 +/- 3.93, P < 0.01), and beta(3.24 +/- 0.43 vs 2.91 +/- 0.52, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Aging and hypertension significantly increase aortic diameter, thickness and stiffness. Men have higher aortic diameter and wall thickness than women but similar stiffness.
Zhang
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W
Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Medical University, Jinan.
Zhang
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Zhang
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values