title: Therapeutic Modulation of Aortic Stiffness.
abstract: Aortic stiffness (AS) is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity in humans. The present review discusses the possible pathophysiological mechanisms of AS and focuses on a survey of different therapeutic modalities for decreasing AS. The influence of several nonpharmacological interventions is described: decrease body weight, diet, aerobic exercise training, music, and continuous positive airway pressure therapy. The effects of different pharmacological drug classes on AS are also discussed: antihypertensive drugs-renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system drugs, beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs)-advanced glycation end product cross-link breakers, statins, oral anti-diabetics, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin D, antioxidant vitamins, and endothelin-1 receptor antagonists. All of these have shown some effect in decreasing AS.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX; 2Captain James A. Lovell Hospital, North Chicago, IL; 3Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL; and 4Northern Illinois University.
authors.forename: Ahmed Muzhir
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Ghazwan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shaaya
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Khazaali
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Khafaji
authors.forename: Hanan K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Helu
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000819:agonists; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D014807:Vitamin D