title: Changes in aortic pulse wave velocity of patients undergoing endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in pulse wave velocity (PWV), a valid index of arterial stiffness, in patients undergoing endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Arterial stiffness is an independent marker of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight consecutive male patients (mean age 71±4 years) underwent elective EVAR (AAA group) after exclusion of patients with Marfan syndrome or other collagen-related disorders. Thirty-one age-matched men (mean age 69±5 years) without overt cardiovascular disease served as controls. PWV and clinical parameters were determined at baseline in both groups and after 6 months in the AAA group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the groups did not differ in demographic characteristics, lipid profile, or blood pressure levels (p>0.05). PWV was considerably higher in AAA than controls (p<0.001). PWV positively correlated with mean blood pressure, AAA diameter, and age in univariate and multivariate analysis (R(2)=0.498, p=0.008). At 6 months after EVAR, PWV significantly increased from 13.11±3.57 m/s to 16.41±2.33 m/s (p<0.001) in the AAA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with AAA present with significantly elevated PWV levels compared to controls, and stent-graft repair is associated with a significant increase in the PWV. Whether those changes contribute to the cardiovascular risk in AAA patients needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos P E
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kadoglou
authors.forename: Konstantinos G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Moulakakis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.forename: Ignatios
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikonomidis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alepaki
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekakis
authors.forename: Christos D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Liapis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness