Impaired aortic elastic properties in young patients with prehypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Although hypertension has been shown to be one of the most important predictors of reduced arterial elasticity, there is not enough data about aortic elastic properties in patients with prehypertension. Accordingly, the current study was designated to evaluate aortic elastic features in young patients with prehypertension.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 25 newly diagnosed prehypertensive individuals (18 men, mean age=34+/-6 years) and 25 healthy controls (16 men, mean age=33+/-6 years) eligible for the current study. Aortic strain, distensibility index and stiffness index beta were calculated from aortic diameters measured by echocardiography and blood pressures simultaneously measured by sphygmomanometry.


RESULTS
Prehypertensive patients were detected to have significantly lower aortic distensibility and strain indexes than the controls: (5.77+/-1.91 vs. 8.63+/-2.67 cm dynx10, respectively, P<0.001; strain index: 13.81+/-4.50 vs. 17.47+/-4.25%, respectively, P=0.005). Aortic stiffness index beta of the prehypertensive group, however, was significantly higher than that of the control group (3.73+/-1.41 vs. 2.97+/-0.82, P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Whatever the mechanism, young patients with prehypertension have impaired aortic elasticity compared with healthy controls. This finding has suggested that the development of overt hypertension may be prevented or delayed by using the agents that have the ability to reduce arterial stiffness by regressing and/or preventing functional and structural changes on the arterial wall.
Celik
Turgay
T
Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Etlik-Ankara, and Department of Cardiology, Etimesgut District Hospital, Turkish Air Force, Etimesgut-Ankara, Turkey. benturgay@yahoo.com
Iyisoy
Atila
A
Kursaklioglu
Hurkan
H
Turhan
Hasan
H
Cagdas Yuksel
Uygar
U
Kilic
Selim
S
Kutsi Kabul
Hasan
H
Genc
Celal
C
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003187:Compliance; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D019722:Sphygmomanometers