title: Relationship between effective arterial elastance, total vascular resistance, and augmentation index at the ascending aorta and left ventricular diastolic function in older women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is frequently observed in older women. Increased arterial stiffness in this population may be a cause of HFpEF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 75 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and who had no significant coronary artery stenosis or left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities, the LV relaxation time constant (Tp) was calculated. The LVEF was obtained from left ventriculography, and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was measured. From the pressure waveforms at the ascending aorta, the augmentation index (AIx) was calculated. Effective arterial elastance (Ea) and total vascular resistance (TVR) were also determined. No significant differences were found between genders for age, heart rate, central blood pressure, or LVEF. Ea, TVR, AIx, and BNP level were significantly greater in women than in men, but only AIx was significantly correlated with Tp (r=0.25, P=0.04) and BNP level (r=0.33, P=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The arterial system is stiffer in women than in men of the same age. Among the parameters of arterial stiffness, only AIx is related to abnormal LV relaxation and increased BNP level. Elevated AIx is a factor that causes LV diastolic dysfunction and may be associated with the development of HFpEF in this gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Renal Medicine and Hypertension, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohte
authors.forename: Hidekatsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuta
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakami
authors.forename: Tomomitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Genjiro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain