title: Aortic elastic properties in patients with hypertensive response to exercise.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relationship between aortic elastic properties in patients with a suggestive response to treadmill exercise testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group comprised 32 patients suggesting hypertensive response to exercise and 20 patients suggesting normal blood pressure response to treadmill exercise testing. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. However, the mean aortic stiffness index of patients suggesting hypertensive response to treadmill exercise testing was significantly higher (4.8+/-1.26 vs 2.36+/-1.09; p=0.001) whereas aortic distensibility was significantly lower (12.82 +/-5.84 vs 22.64+/-14.54; p=0.001) than the control group. The aortic strain of patients with hypertensive response to exercise was lower than the control group (12+/-3% vs 19.2+/-5%, p<0.001). The left ventricular mass (LVM) of these patients was also higher than control group (206.5+/-46.3 vs 134.2+/-19.97; p=0.01). A negative correlation between LVM and distensibility was found (r=-0.64; p=0.001) well as a positive correlation between LVM and aortic stiffness index (r=0.51; p=0.004) in patients suggesting hypertensive response to exercise. Pressure--rate product was also found to be correlated with LVM (r=0.47; p=0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elastic properties of the aorta may be impaired in subjects showing exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise long before clinically manifest hypertension, particularly if the LVM is increased.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Kartal Kosuyolu Yüksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. bitigen@yahoo.com
authors: Atila
authors: A
authors: Bitigen
authors: Erdem
authors: E
authors: Türkyilmaz
authors: Irfan
authors: I
authors: Barutcu
authors: Gökhan
authors: G
authors: Kahveci
authors: Ibrahim Halil
authors: IH
authors: Tanboga
authors: Soe Moe
authors: SM
authors: Aung
authors: Nihal
authors: N
authors: Ozdemir
authors: Cihangir
authors: C
authors: Kaymaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004452:Echocardiography; D004548:Elasticity; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged