Echocardiographic evaluation and clinical implications of aortic stiffness and coronary flow reserve and their relation.
The normal human aorta is not a stiff tube but is characterized by elastic properties with a buffering Windkessel function. Aortic stiffening may cause an increase in aortic pulse pressure, left ventricular load, and ultimately left ventricular hypertrophy. This, together with the decreased diastolic transmyocardial pressure gradient interacts with coronary flow and flow reserve. In recent studies, significant correlations between coronary flow reserve and aortic stiffness have been demonstrated in different patient populations. The aim of the present review is to describe the current echocardiographic modalities to measure aortic stiffness and coronary flow reserve and to overview our knowledge about the relationship between aortic stiffness and coronary flow reserve.
Nemes
Attila
A
2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical and Pharmaceutical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. nemes@in2nd.szote.u-szeged.hu
Geleijnse
Marcel L
ML
Forster
Tamás
T
Soliman
Osama I I
OI
Ten Cate
Folkert J
FJ
Csanády
Miklós
M
D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans