title: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with abnormal echocardiographic aortic elastic properties and arteriograph-derived pulse-wave velocity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disease and defined by the presence of unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Vascular alterations are frequently associated with HCM including microvascular and/or peripherial endothelial dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate echocardiographic ascending aortic elastic properties and arteriograph-derived pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (Aix) in HCM.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 38 patients with typical features of HCM. Their results were compared to 20 hypertensive patients with LVH and 23 controls. Systolic and diastolic ascending aortic diameters were recorded in M-mode at a level of 3 cm above the aortic valve from a parasternal long-axis view. The following echocardiographic aortic elastic properties were measured from aortic data and forearm blood pressure values: aortic strain, distensibility, and stiffness index. Arteriograph-derived PWV and AIx were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic stiffness index (18.4 ± 17.6 vs. 6.88 ± 3.63, P < 0.05), PWV (9.44 ± 4.08 vs. 7.97 ± 1.20 m/sec, P < 0.05) and Aix (-24.9 ± 32.6 vs. -41.4 ± 24.3, P < 0.05) were increased, while aortic strain (0.061 ± 0.053 vs. 0.100 ± 0.059, P < 0.05) and aortic distensibility (1.94 ± 1.68 cm(2) /dynes 10(-6) vs. 3.08 ± 1.77 cm(2) /dynes 10(-6) , P < 0.05) were decreased in HCM patients compared to controls. Aortic elastic properties of hypertensive patients with LVH showed similar alterations to HCM patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal echocardiographic aortic elastic properties and arteriograph-derived PWV and Aix could be demonstrated in HCM patients compared to matched controls.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gavallér
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sepp
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Csanády
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemes
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness