Clinical-instrumental correlations of local elastic properties of the thoracic aorta in patients with coronary atherosclerosis

Introduction. This is part of research with aim of increasing the effectiveness of echocardiography in patients with coronary atherosclerosis by assessing local elastic properties of the thoracic aorta using modern ultrasound technologies. Aim. To analyze correlations between deterioration of local elastic properties of the thoracic aorta, impairment of renal filtration function, severity of left ventricular hypertrophy and ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk factors in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Materials and methods. From 2016 to 2019, 109 patients aged 39 to 82 years, who were divided into 2 groups according to the results of invasive coronarography, were examined: 64 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 45 patients without coronary atherosclerosis. Using transthoracic echocardiography, the following were obtained: coefficient of distensibility, compliance coefficient, Peterson’s elasticity modulus, stiffness index of the ascending thoracic aorta. Analysis of correlations between these indices, indicators of IHD risk factors, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was done. Results. Group without coronary atherosclerosis showed negative correlations of compliance coefficient with LVMI (r=–0.421), positive correlations of Peterson’s elasticity modulus and stiffness index with LVMI (r=0.304, r=0.397). Group with coronary atherosclerosis showed negative correlations of the coefficient of distensibility with LVMI (r=–0.331), Peterson’s elasticity modulus and stiffness index with GFR (r=–0.473, r=–0.469). Positive correlations were found between coefficients of compliance and distensibility with GFR (r=0.418, r=0.473), Peterson’s elasticity modulus and the stiffness index with LVMI (r=0.33, r=0.304). Conclusion. Research reveals relationship between the local elastic properties of the thoracic aorta, GFR and severity of LV hypertrophy in patients with coronary atherosclerosis and the effectiveness of echocardiographic technologies in their assessment.

echocardiography, elastic properties, thoracic aorta, tissue doppler, coronary atherosclerosis, glomerular filtration rate, left ventricle hypertrophy

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