title: Quantification of aortic stiffness to predict the degree of left ventricular diastolic function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between the arterial stiffness and the severity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in hypertension has not been fully evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of aortic stiffness by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to parameters reflecting the atherosclerosis and the severity of LV diastolic function in patients with hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  LV ejection fraction, the ratio of peak velocity of early rapid filling and peak velocity of atrial filling (E/A ratio) and LV mass index were determined with echocardiography in 800 patients with hypertension. LV diastolic function was estimated by pulsed-tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography, averaging diastolic mitral annular velocity measurements (Emav, Amav and Emav/Amav ratio) from 2 separate sites (basal septal and lateral). The baPWV was measured by the volume rendering method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent factors of LV diastolic function were deceleration time, baPWV, age and Emav/Amav ratio. The receiver- operator characteristic curve demonstrated a baPWV of 1566 cm/sec was useful to discriminate mild LV diastolic dysfunction (sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 78%), and that a baPWV of 1730 cm/sec was useful to discriminate moderate LV diastolic dysfunction (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 57%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased baPWV relates not only to the parameters reflecting atherosclerosis but also to those reflecting LV diastolic dysfunction. TDI-detected LV diastolic dysfunction is accompanied by increased aortic stiffness in essential hypertension. Therefore, quantification of aortic stiffness can predict the degree of LV diastolic function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia Yi Hsien, Taiwan. cmchung02@hotmail.com/accept@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Chang-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Shih-Tai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hui-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Teng-Yao
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Po-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Kuo-Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jen-Te
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000209:etiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left