Wall motion velocities of ascending aorta measured by tissue Doppler imaging in obese children.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is associated with the development of early cardiovascular abnormalities such as atherosclerotic lesions. Arterial stiffness may be an indicator of early vascular changes signaling the development of vascular disease. The objective of the current study was to screen aortic elastic properties with tissue Doppler imaging in obese children.


METHODS
We examined 37 obese children and 30 age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Anthropometric measurements and metabolic risk profile were assessed in a physical examination and with blood taking. The subjects were divided into two subgroups: those with and without metabolic syndrome. Internal aortic systolic and diastolic diameters by M-mode echocardiography and aortic systolic upper-wall tissue velocity by tissue Doppler imaging were measured 3 cm above the aortic valve. Aortic distensibility and aortic stiffness index were calculated using accepted formulae.


RESULTS
Aortic stiffness parameters and both tissue Doppler peak systolic and diastolic velocities differed significantly in obese children compared to controls. Among the subgroups, children with metabolic syndrome had a lower aortic stiffness index, aortic distensibility and tissue Doppler velocities. However, only peak diastolic velocities significantly differed between obese children without metabolic syndrome and controls. Homeostatic model scores, diastolic blood pressures and pulse pressures were the strongest to correlate with peak diastolic velocity (r=-0.88, P < 0.001, r=-0.62, P= 0.001 and, r= 0.55, P= 0.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Tissue Doppler imaging is a feasible and sensitive method to identify aortic stiffness in obese children. Reduced aortic diastolic velocity is the most prominent early vascular change detected in obese children before metabolic syndrome occurs.
Pac
Feyza Aysenur
FA
Clinic of Pediatric Cardiology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. aysepac@gmail.com
Guray
Yesim
Y
Polat
Tugcin Bora
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology