Association of aortic arch pulse wave velocity with left ventricular mass and lacunar brain infarcts in hypertensive patients: assessment with MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the possible association between aortic arch stiffness, which may cause hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and cardiac and cerebral end-organ damage in patients with hypertension by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


METHODS
Approval from the local institutional review board was obtained, and patients gave informed consent. Fifty patients with hypertension (31 women and 19 men; mean age +/- standard deviation, 49.2 years +/- 12.7; mean systolic blood pressure, 152.1 mm Hg +/- 22.3; mean diastolic blood pressure, 88.0 mm Hg +/- 13.1), compliant for treatment with antihypertensive medication, were prospectively enrolled for MR examinations of the aorta, heart, and brain with standard pulse sequences. Aortic arch pulse wave velocity (PWV), left ventricular (LV) mass, LV systolic and diastolic function, lacunar brain infarcts, and periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were assessed. Univariable and multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
Mean aortic arch PWV was 7.3 m/sec +/- 2.5. Aortic arch PWV was statistically significantly associated with LV mass (r = 0.30, P = .03, beta = 1.73); indexes of systolic function, including ejection fraction (r = -0.38, P = .01, beta = -1.12); indexes of diastolic function, including the ratio of early diastolic to atrial contraction peak filling rates (r = -0.44, P < .01, beta = -0.11); lacunar brain infarcts (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, P < .01); and periventricular (OR = 1.5, P = .01) and deep (OR = 1.6, P = .01) WMHs. Aortic arch PWV was statistically significantly associated with LV mass (r = 0.37, P = .03, beta = 2.11) and lacunar brain infarcts (OR = 1.8, P = .04), independent of age, sex, and hypertension duration, but not with indexes of diastolic and systolic function and WMHs.


CONCLUSIONS
Aortic arch stiffness is associated with LV mass and lacunar brain infarcts in hypertensive patients, independent of age, sex, and hypertension duration; these manifestations of end-organ damage may help to risk stratify hypertensive patients.
Brandts
Anne
A
Department of Radiology and Section of Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. a.brandts@lumc.nl
van Elderen
Saskia G C
SG
Westenberg
Jos J M
JJ
van der Grond
Jeroen
J
van Buchem
Mark A
MA
Huisman
Menno V
MV
Kroft
Lucia J M
LJ
Tamsma
Jouke T
JT
de Roos
Albert
A
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013599:Systole; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*