The relation between the color M-mode propagation velocity of the descending aorta and coronary and carotid atherosclerosis and flow-mediated dilatation.
BACKGROUND
To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) have correlated with coronary atherosclerosis. Recently, the color M-mode-derived propagation velocity of descending thoracic aorta (AVP) was shown to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
CIMT, FMD, and AVP were measured in 92 patients with CAD and 70 patients having normal coronary arteries (NCA) detected by coronary angiography. Patients with acute myocardial infarction, renal failure or hepatic failure, aneurysm of aorta, severe valvular heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, atrial fibrillation, frequent premature beats, left bundle branch block, and inadequate echocardiographic image quality were excluded.


RESULTS
Compared to patients with normal coronary arteries, patients having CAD had significantly lower AVP (29.9 +/- 8.1 vs. 47.5 +/- 16.8 cm/sec, P < 0.001) and FMD (5.3 +/- 1.9 vs. 11.4 +/- 5.8%, P < 0.001) and higher CIMT (0.94 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.83 +/- 0.14 mm, P < 0.001) measurements. There were significant correlations between AVP and CIMT (r =-0.691, P < 0.001), AVP and FMD (r = 0.514, P < 0.001) and FMD and CIMT (r =-0.530, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The transthoracic echocardiographic determination of the color M-mode propagation velocity of the descending aorta is a simple practical method and correlates well with the presence of carotid and coronary atherosclerosis and brachial endothelial function.
Gunes
Yilmaz
Y
Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. mail: yilmazleman@yahoo.com
Tuncer
Mustafa
M
Guntekin
Unal
U
Ceylan
Yemlihan
Y
Simsek
Hakki
H
Sahin
Musa
M
Yildirim
Mustafa
M
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*