Impact of rheumatic mitral stenosis on aortic elastic properties.
OBJECTIVE
Although mitral stenosis has profound effects on the circulation and hemodynamics, few data exist regarding its impact on aortic elastic properties. The study aim was to determine the association between mitral stenosis and aortic elastic properties by using strain and distensibility as a surrogate.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients with echocardiographic documentation of rheumatic mitral stenosis, and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Aortic elasticity parameters including strain and distensibility were measured by means of echocardiography.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patient and control groups were 41.8 +/- 12.0 and 38.9 +/- 5.0 years, respectively (p = 0.12). There was a significant impairment in distensibility and strain in the patient group compared to controls (0.276 +/- 0.167 versus 0.491 +/- 0.260 cm2 x dyn(-1), p = 0.001; 6.54 +/- 3.18% versus 9.19 +/- 4.78%, p = 0.015). There was a strong correlation between distensibility and left atrial diameter (p < 0.001; r = -0.39), left atrial volume index (p < 0.001; r = -0.56), mitral valve area (p < 0.001; r = 0.40), and mean transmitral gradient (p = 0.022; r = -0.18). Strain was also associated with left atrial diameter (p = 0.002; r = -0.32), left atrial volume index (p < 0.001; r = -0.41), mitral valve area (p = 0.002; r = 0.31), and mean transmitral gradient (p = 0.035; r = -0.18).


CONCLUSIONS
Mitral stenosis was shown to be associated with impaired aortic elasticity, but further studies are required to clarify the clinical significance of this finding.
Department of Cardiology, Gaziantep University, School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey. sleymanercan@yahoo.com
Suleyman
S
Ercan
Gokhan
G
Altunbas
Vedat
V
Davutoglu
Fethi
F
Yavuz
Okkeş
O
Uku
Fuat
F
Basanalan
Mehmet
M
Kaplan
Hayri
H
Alici
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed / Q000379:methods; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic