title: Relation between carotid intima-media thickness and aortic knob width in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis is important in the evaluation of a hypertensive patient, as it provides information on the severity of the hypertension and the cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the aortic knob width measured on chest radiography in the assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 126 consecutive hypertensive patients were enrolled. In univariate analysis, there was a strong correlation between carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and aortic knob width (r=0.62, P<0.001). In addition, there were statistically significant correlations between CIMT and age (r=0.42, P<0.001), systolic pressure (r=0.27, P=0.02), diastolic pressure (r=0.28, P<0.03), and pulse pressure (r=0.31, P<0.001). In linear regression analysis, the aortic knob width (β=0.5, P<0.001), age (β=0.02, P=0.03), and systolic pressure (β=0.03, P=0.005) were the only independent predictors of CIMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observation of aortic knob on chest radiograph in hypertensive patients may provide important predictive information of subclinical atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Ahi Evren Heart and Vascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Turkey.
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Erkan
authors: Levent
authors: L
authors: Korkmaz
authors: Mustafa Tark
authors: MT
authors: Ağaç
authors: Zeydin
authors: Z
authors: Acar
authors: Abdülkadir
authors: A
authors: Kiriş
authors: Merve
authors: M
authors: Erkan
authors: Ayca Ata
authors: AA
authors: Korkmaz
authors: Bülent
authors: B
authors: Vatan
authors: Ali Rza
authors: AR
authors: Akyüz
authors: Halit
authors: H
authors: Cnarka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography