title: Evaluation of aortic elastic properties in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the elastic properties of the aorta, which are known to be predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients (2 males, 38 females) with SSc who had been referred to echocardiography without any exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 38 subjects (4 males, 34 females) who were examined in the cardiology out-patient clinic and referred to echocardiography for any indication in the same period. Parameters related to diastolic functions of the left ventricle were obtained by echocardiography and the following parameters of aortic elasticity were calculated according to these formulas: aortic strain = ([AOS - AOD]/AOD), aortic stiffness index (ß) = ln (systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure)/aortic strain and aortic distensibility = 2 × aortic strain/pulse pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic strain and distensibility were significantly lower, and aortic stiffness index ß was significantly higher in the SSc group compared to the control group. While the systolic diameter of the aorta did not differ between study and control groups, the diastolic diameter of the aorta was significantly higher in SSc patients. On the other hand, left ventricular diastolic functions were compromised in the SSc group. Mitral A velocity, E-wave deceleration time and E/Em ratio were increased and mitral E/A ratio, lateral and medial annular Em velocity were significantly decreased in SSc patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that aortic stiffness is increased and left ventricular diastolic functions are compromised in patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgül
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uçar Elalmış
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ciçekçioğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Giresun Prof. Dr. Atilla İlhan Özdemir State Hospital, Giresun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagöz
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ozbalkan Aşlar
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karaaslan
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*