Aortic elastic properties in patients with hypertensive response to exercise.
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.
Bitigen
Atila
A
Department of Cardiology, Kartal Kosuyolu Yüksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. bitigen@yahoo.com
Türkyilmaz
Erdem
E
Barutcu
Irfan
I
Kahveci
Gökhan
G
Tanboga
Ibrahim Halil
IH
Aung
Soe Moe
SM
Ozdemir
Nihal
N
Kaymaz
Cihangir
C
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