Arterial stiffness is associated with regional ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The pathophysiology of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, particularly in the setting of a preserved ejection fraction (EF), remains unclear. Few studies have investigated the relationship between arterial compliance and LV function in humans, and none used cardiovascular MRI.


RESULTS
We sought to determine whether arterial compliance is related to regional myocardial function among participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Arterial compliance was assessed using carotid ultrasound measurements to calculate the distensibility coefficient (DC) and Young's modulus (YM). Circumferential systolic (SR(S)) and diastolic (SR(E)) strain rates were calculated by harmonic phase (HARP) from tagged MRI. Associations between arterial compliance and indices of ventricular function were adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. We found a significant association between arterial compliance and SR(S) in all myocardial regions (P<0.05); arterial compliance was also associated with SR(E) in the lateral and septal wall regions (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated a direct linear relationship between the carotid artery DC and SR(S) across all LV segments and slices, even after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and LV mass. In regression analyses, a significant relationship between arterial compliance and SR(E) in the septal and antero-apical walls was also found and remained significant after multivariable adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
Arterial stiffness is associated with early and asymptomatic impairment of systolic as well as diastolic myocardial function. Further studies are needed to elucidate role of vascular compliance in the development of ventricular dysfunction and failure.
Fernandes
Verônica Rolim S
VR
Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. jlima@jhmi.edu
Polak
Joseph F
JF
Cheng
Susan
S
Rosen
Boaz D
BD
Carvalho
Benilton
B
Nasir
Khurram
K
McClelland
Robyn
R
Hundley
Gregory
G
Pearson
Greg
G
O'Leary
Daniel H
DH
Bluemke
David A
DA
Lima
João A C
JA
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003971:Diastole; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D013599:Systole; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D044465:White People