title: Association of Aortic Diameters with Coronary Artery Disease Severity and Albumin Excretion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic diameters, aortic distensibility, microalbuminuria, coronary artery disease which are all together related to vascular aging are investigated in this paper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty consecutive nondiabetic patients undergoing elective coronary angiography were enrolled into the study. Systolic and diastolic aortic diameters, aortic distensibility, CAD severity by angiogram with the use of Gensini scoring, and albumin excretion rates were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cases with CAD had significantly larger systolic (30,72 ± 3,21 mm versus 34,19 ± 4,03 mm for cases without and with CAD, resp.) and diastolic aortic diameters measured 3 cm above aortic valve compared to patients without CAD (33,56 ± 4,07 mm versus 29,75 ± 3,12 mm). The systolic and diastolic diameters were significantly higher in albuminuria positive patients compared to albuminuria negative patients (p = 0.017 and 0.008, resp., for systolic and diastolic diameters).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion aortic diameters are increased in patients with coronary artery disease and in patients with microalbuminuria. In CAD patients, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, aortic systolic and diastolic pressure, and albumin excretion rate were higher and aortic distensibility was lower.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Şevket Yılmaz Government Research and Training Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emül
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sağ
authors.affiliation: Tıp Fakültesi Kalp, Damar Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Uludağ Üniversitesi, Görükle Kampüsü, Nilüfer, 16059 Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biçer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydınlar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies