title: Carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic patients with arterial hypertension without clinical cardiovascular disease: relation with left ventricular geometry and mass and coexisting risk factors.
abstract: We analyzed in NYHA I hypertensives the interactions between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT), Hypertension and Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and relationships between IMT, CV risk factors and left ventricular (LV) geometric remodelling. 198 asymptomatic, never treated, essential hypertensives (age: 58.2 +/- 13) and 67 (age-gender matched) healthy subjects, were studied. Complete clinical examination, 2D Doppler echocardiography and vascular echography were performed in all study subjects. Major values of IMT are present in concentric LVH. Distribution of IMT among risk factors groups shows an higher IMT respect to increasing number of risk factors (P < 0.001). Significant correlation are present between pulse pressure and IMT (P < 0.006; r = 0.19) and IMT and LVM (P < 0.0001; r = 0.35). Altered patterns of LV geometry and carotid structural changes occur in many patients with essential hypertension. LVH or carotid remodeling are greater in elderly, in patients with higher systolic BP and with associated CV risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. vdibello@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: Vitantonio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Bello
authors.forename: Scipione
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carerj
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perticone
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benedetto
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palombo
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talini
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Carrubba
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antonini-Canterin
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Salvo
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellieni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezzano
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balbarini
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology