The relationship between aortic distensibility and serologic markers of atherosclerosis

Hyun Kuk Kim,; Jong Chun Park,; Sung Soo Kim,; Hong Sang Choi,; Doo Sun Sim,; Nam Sik Yoon,; Hyun Ju Yoon,; Young Joon Hong,; Hyung Wook Park,; Ju Han Kim,; Young keun Ahn,; Myung Ho Jeong,; Jeong Gwan Cho,; Jung Chaee Kang,

Korean J Med > Volume 77(1); 2009 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2009;77(1):68-75.

The relationship between aortic distensibility and serologic markers of atherosclerosis

Hyun Kuk Kim, Jong Chun Park, Sung Soo Kim, Hong Sang Choi, Doo Sun Sim, Nam Sik Yoon, Hyun Ju Yoon, Young Joon Hong, Hyung Wook Park, Ju Han Kim, Young keun Ahn, Myung Ho Jeong, Jeong Gwan Cho, Jung Chaee Kang

대동맥 탄성도와 동맥경화증의 혈액학적 인자의 관계

김현국, 박종춘, 김성수, 최홍상, 심두선, 윤남식, 윤현주, 홍영준, 박형욱, 김주한, 안영근, 정명호, 조정관, 강정채

Abstract

Background/Aims: The elasticity of the aorta modulates the entire cardiovascular system. Increasing arterial stiffness with the loss of aortic elasticity is not only a surrogate marker for early atherosclerosis, but also a predictor of cardiovascular events. Methods: This study included 203 patients (57.6±14.7 years, 117 male) who underwent diagnostic transesophageal echocardiography. We investigated the correlation between the arterial stiffness index (β stiffness index), which is calculated from the distensibility of the descending thoracic aorta and blood pressure, and known serologic markers of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Results: The β stiffness index correlated significantly with the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (R2=0.243, p<0.001) and intimamedia thickness of the descending thoracic aorta (R2= 0.470, p<0.001). It also correlated with age (r=0.465, p<0.001) and the presence of diabetes mellitus (r=0.250, p<0.001). The β stiffness index was significantly positively correlated with the levels of N- terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT- proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), glucose, HbA1c, apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I, and erythrocyte sediment rate. A multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the ß stiffness index was associated with the levels of NT-proBNP, hsCRP, HbA1c, and Apo A-I. Conclusions: The β stiffness index for the distensibility of the descending thoracic aorta significantly correlates with other parameters of arterial stiffness and serologic markers for atherosclerosis. Therefore, the β stiffness index can be used as a parameter of cardiovascular events in diseases requiring transesophageal echocardiography, such as atrial fibrillation and mitral stenosis. (Korean J Med 77:68-75, 2009)

Key Words: Atherosclerosis; Aorta; Echocardiography