title: Elastic aortic properties in patients with X syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elastic properties of the aorta represent an important determinant of left ventricular function and coronary blood flow but there are few data about aortic stiffness in patients with X syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the elastic aortic proprieties (aortic stiffness and distensibility) and arterial wall motion velocities as measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with cardiac X syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with X syndrome (typical chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries associated with a positive exercise test) were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 15 healthy patients. The aortic elastic indexes, namely distensibility (cm(2) dyne(-1)) and stiffness index (β index) were calculated from M-mode echocardiographically-derived thoracic aortic diameters using accepted formulae, and TDI parameters were measured on the wall of the ascending aorta 3 cm above the aortic valve. Anterior wall aortic expansion velocity (S), early (E) and late (A) diastolic retraction velocity and peak systolic strain were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic elastic proprieties were more impaired in the syndrome X group than in the control group. Aortic distensibility was significantly lower in the syndrome X group (3.2 ± 1.3 vs. 7.95 ± 4 cm(2) dyne(-1), p<0.001), while stiffness index was higher (7.3 ± 2.1 vs. 4.1 ± 1.6, p<0.001) than in the control group. Peak systolic (S) and diastolic waves (E and A waves) of the aortic wall TDI were similar in patients and controls (S wave: 5.7 ± 1.6 cm/s vs. 5.8 ± 1.6 cm/s, E wave: -4.8 ± 2.0 vs. -4.1 ± 2.0 cm/s; A wave: -4.32 ± 2.1 vs. -4.76 ± 1.8 cm/s) while tissue strain of the aortic wall was lower in patients with X syndrome than controls (-12.80 ± 7% vs. -22.3 ± 5.9%, p<0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deterioration in aortic elasticity properties in patients with cardiac syndrome X suggests that this disease may be a more generalised disturbance of the vasculature.
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: enrico.vizzardi@tin.it.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Vizzardi
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy.
authors: Eleftheria
authors: E
authors: Trichaki
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy.
authors: Ivano
authors: I
authors: Bonadei
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy.
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Sciatti
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Salghetti
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Raddino
authors: Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Study of Brescia, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Metra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: Aortic stiffness; Cardiac X syndrome; Distensibility; Echocardiography; Tissue Doppler imaging