| 1. |
- Sonesson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Does long-term smoking affect aortic stiffness more in women than in men?
- 1997
-
Ingår i: Clinical Physiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2281 .- 0144-5979. ; 17:5, s. 439-447
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Smoking is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, although understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism is incomplete. The effect of heavy smoking, for more than 20 years and of 20 cigarettes per day, on aortic stiffness was studied in women (n = 23, age range 43-61 years) and men (n = 21, age range 43-61 years) who smoked but were otherwise healthy and compared with a healthy reference population that did not smoke. Aortic stiffness (beta) was calculated from the diameter and the pulsatile diameter change determined non-invasively using an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory method. The results showed that aortic diameter did not differ in smoking males (P = 0.974) or in smoking females (P = 0.361). Aortic stiffness was increased in the female (P = 0.041) but not male smokers (P = 0.222). Systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure in the men and women who smoked did not differ from those in the healthy reference population. In conclusion, this investigation shows increased aortic stiffness in female but not in male smokers. It indicates that the aorta of women might be more vulnerable to smoking with regard to stiffening and degeneration than the aorta of men.
|
|
| 2. |
- Sonesson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Influence of sympathetic stimulation on the mechanical properties of the aorta in humans
- 1997
-
Ingår i: Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. - 0001-6772. ; 159:2, s. 139-145
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mechanical properties of the aorta play a major role in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiac performance. The effect of sympathetic stimulation on the mechanical properties of the human abdominal aorta was studied in 19 healthy volunteers, divided into young (25 +/- 2 years) and elderly individuals (69 +/- 2 years) of both sexes. A non-invasive ultrasonic echo-tracking system for measurement of systolic/diastolic variation of aortic diameter in combination with intra-aortic pressure measurements was used to determine wall mechanics. The pressure-diameter (P-D) relationship and the distensibility indices, stiffness (beta) and pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep) of the abdominal aorta were obtained. Measurements were made at rest and during sympathetic stimulation induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP). As a sign of sympathetic activation, the peripheral resistance increased by 74-96% (P < 0.001) during LBNP. However, the mechanical properties of the abdominal aorta remained unaltered, as estimated either from the P-D relationship or from the indices Ep and beta, both in the young (rest: Ep = 0.53 +/- 0.18, beta = 4.5 +/- 1.5; LBNP: Ep = 0.51 +/- 0.15, beta = 4.5 +/- 1.2, NS) and in the elderly (rest: Ep = 2.17 +/- 0.70, beta = 17.6 +/- 5.8; LBNP: Ep = 2.11 +/- 0.60, beta = 16.9 +/- 3.9, NS). In conclusion, this investigation shows that LBNP-induced sympathetic activation does not change aortic wall mechanics. Thus, sympathetic modulation of the aortic smooth muscle contractile activity seems to be unimportant in the blood pressure regulation.
|
|
| 3. |
- Sonesson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
Abdominal aortic aneurysm: a general defect in the vasculature with focal manifestations in the abdominal aorta?
- 1997
-
Ingår i: Journal of Vascular Surgery. - 1097-6809. ; 26:2, s. 247-254
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: It has been suggested that abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) develop as a result of an alteration in the systemic connective tissue metabolism. This might change wall mechanics and diameter, not only in the AAA but also in the rest of the vascular system. This hypothesis was tested by studying the mechanical properties of AAAs as well as the common carotid artery (CCA) in the same patient population. METHODS: AAA and carotid artery stiffness (beta) was studied in 121 individuals (101 men, 20 women) who were admitted for elective repair of AAA. Stiffness (beta) was calculated from diameter and pulsatile diameter change determined noninvasively from an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory method. The results were compared with those of healthy individuals of corresponding age and gender published elsewhere. RESULTS: The stiffness of the AAA was increased in both men and women (p = 0.0001). The increase was more pronounced in women compared with men (p = 0.0003) to a mean of 435% and 189% of the normal predicted values, respectively. In the CCA, the stiffness was increased in men (p = 0.027) and in women (p = 0.0001) to a mean of 131% and 149% of the normal predicted values, respectively. A significant correlation between stiffness in the aneurysm and in the carotid artery was seen (p = 0.0031). The carotid diameter was unchanged in men (p = 0.924) and in women (p = 0.070) if adjusted for the difference in blood pressure between the individuals with AAAs and control subjects. There was no correlation between stiffness and diameter of the aneurysm in men (r = 0.16, p = 0.119) nor in women (r = 0.12, p = 0.598). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrated altered mechanical properties of the aneurysmal wall as well as in the CCA in individuals with AAAs. The normal age- and gender-related differences seen in the healthy aorta and CCA vanished. The results suggest that AAA is a generalized process of the vasculature with focal manifestation in the abdominal aorta.
|
|
| 4. |
- Länne, T, et al.
(författare)
-
Improved reliability of ultrasonic surveillance of abdominal aortic aneurysms
- 1997
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. - 1532-2165. ; 13:2, s. 149-153
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are usually managed conservatively by serial ultrasound examinations to assess size. The development of the size of the AAA will determine whether the patient is a candidate for surgery. The precision of measurement is therefore of considerable importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and the reproducibility of a newly developed echo-tracking ultrasonic system in the size evaluation of AAA. DESIGN: Prospective study at a University Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An echo-tracking ultrasound system with a 3.5 MHz transducer was used in 54 patients with AAA. Thirty-six patients had repeated measurements by one technician to evaluate the intra-observer variability. In another 18 patients with aortic dilatation/AAA, the measurements were repeated by a second technician in a blinded fashion with calculation of inter-observer variability. The reproducibility was evaluated both using linear regression and plots according to the method described by Bland and Altman. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the aorta was 37 mm (range 21-51 mm). The coefficient of correlation of repetitive measurements with one observer was r = 0.99 and with two observers r = 0.99. The intra-observer variability was 0.78 mm (S.D.) and the inter-observer variability 0.93 mm (S.D.). The intra- and inter-observer coefficient of variation (CV) was 2-3%. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed echo-tracking ultrasonography seems at present to be the most accurate and reliable method to follow the diameter of an abdominal aortic aneurysm detecting relevant changes in the diameter exceeding 2 mm (2 S.D.). Thus it fulfils the requirements both for follow-up of conservatively managed AAAs and endovascularly treated aneurysms.
|
|
| 5. |
- Rydén Ahlgren, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
-
Changes in aortic wall stiffness in men with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
- 1997
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. - 1532-2165. ; 14:4, s. 252-257
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To examine the diameter and distensibility of the abdominal aorta in patients with severe α1-antitrypsin deficiency, and to compare the results with those of normal subjects. Material and methods: Abdominal aortic diameter and stiffness (β) was measured using echo-tracking sonography in 19 men (mean age 50, range 25–79) and 17 women (mean age 46, range 26–62) with severe α2-antitrypsin deficiency. The results were compared with those of healthy individuals of corresponding age and gender. Results: There was no significant difference in the abdominal aortic diameter between controls and patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency when corrected for age, sex and body surface area (men p = 0.20, women p = 0.10). Men with α1-antitrypsin deficiency showed significantly lower stiffness in the abdominal aorta compared to controls (p = 0.025), whereas women did not (p = 0.17). Conclusions: No significant difference in abdominal aortic diameter could be detected in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency compared with controls. However, aortic distensibility in men with α1-antitrypsin deficiency is altered. This may reflect early vessel wall abnormality.
|
|
| 6. |
- Sonesson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
-
The mechanical properties of elastic arteries in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- 1997
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. - 1532-2165. ; 14:4, s. 258-264
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To study whether measurements of wall mechanics can be used as an indicator of disturbed vessel wall integrity and predictor of vessel fragility in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). METHODS: The wall mechanics of the abdominal aorta (AO) and common carotid artery (CCA) were estimated from the indices Ep (pressure strain elastic modulus) and stiffness (beta) in twelve individuals with EDS of different subtypes and compared with the results of a healthy reference population. Ep and beta were calculated from diameter and pulsatile diameter change determined non-invasively with the aid of an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory method. RESULTS: Compared with normal individuals and their confidence intervals, subjects with EDS had unaltered diameter, Ep and beta in the AO, as well as in the CCA. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) also showed unaltered results. AO: diameter (males p = 0.66, females p = 0.27), Ep (males p = 0.81, females p = 0.27) and beta (males p = 0.95, females p = 0.12). CCA: diameter (males p = 0.36, females p = 0.46), Ep (males p = 0.93, females p = 0.48) and beta (males p = 0.86, females p = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation could not demonstrate any alteration in wall mechanics as a sign of disturbed vessel wall integrity of elastic arteries in EDS. This might indicate that the structural defect in the arterial wall collagen, and thus the tendency to vessel fragility, cannot be revealed under normal physiological pressure conditions.
|
|
| 7. |
- Rydén Ahlgren, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
-
Stiffness and diameter of the common carotid artery and abdominal aorta in women
- 1997
-
Ingår i: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. - 0301-5629. ; 23:7, s. 983-988
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vascular disease is differentiated throughout the vascular regions with aorta more prone to dilatation and with peripheral arteries more prone to occlusive disease. In this study, we investigated the diameter and distensibility in the common carotid artery (CCA) and abdominal aorta (AO) in healthy females of varying ages to assess potential differences in the aging process. The diameter and pulsatile diameter change of the CCA and AO in 66 healthy Caucasian females aged 8 to 79 y were examined using an ultrasound phase-locked echo-tracking technique. Blood pressure was obtained by the auscultatory method. Arterial stiffness (beta) was calculated. The diameter of both CCA and AO increases, not only in childhood, but also in adult women. The dilatation in adults (25 to 75 y) seems to be more pronounced in the AO (23%) than in the CCA (11%). Stiffness (beta) is higher in the CCA than AO before 20 y of age (p < 0.05). Stiffness increases with aging in both arterial regions, but the increase is initially somewhat higher in the AO, which means that no differences between the CCA and AO are seen from 25 y onward. In conclusion, this study demonstrates regional differences in diameter change and stiffness in the CCA and AO, and implies that the AO is more prone to age-related changes of the arterial wall than the CCA. These differences, however, are not as marked as previously reported in males.
|
|
