title: Impaired aortic elasticity and diastolic functions are associated with findings of coronary computed tomographic angiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Aortic elasticity and diastolic functions are helpful parameters in assessment of CAD. In this study we aimed to learn whether diastolic function and aortic elastic properties measured by echocardiography are associated with coronary calcium score (CACS), epicardial fat volume (EFV), and plaque area measured by coronary tomographic angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 106 consecutive patients suspected of CAD undergoing coronary CTA and transthoracic echocardiography in this prospective study. Total CACS, plaque area, and EFV were calculated via CTA. Aortic stiffness index (ASI) and aortic distensibility (AD) were measured via echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with diastolic dysfunctions of any degree had significantly higher ASI, higher CACS, higher plaque area, and EFV. We found that as the ASI increases, the CACS and total coronary plaque area both increase, showing that there is a strong positive correlation between ASI, CACS, and total coronary plaque area. There was a significant correlation between ASI and EFV, but with a lower statistical value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortic elasticity was correlated with CACS and plaque area. Diastolic dysfunction was observed more commonly among patients with higher CACS and EFV. Epicardial fat volume was not as strong as CACS in reflecting aortic elasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ede
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Erkoç
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okur
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Rıza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Erbay
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003971:Diastole; D004548:Elasticity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography