BACKGROUND: Increased arterial stiffness is an important predictor of cardiovascular (CVS) morbidity and mortality. Adults suffering from cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) represent a population of patients at particular risk of CVS events. Erythrocytosis is a cardinal feature of CCHD but little is known about any possible interaction between hematological derangements and arterial stiffness. METHODS: Fourteen CCHD patients (6 men and 8 women, mean age 32 +/- 3 years) and 13 age-matched healthy subjects were recruited. RESULTS: Mean arterial stiffness, as estimated by stiffness index of digital volume pulse (SI(DVP)) values was similar in the 2 groups (7.9 +/- 0.7 m/s vs. 7.2 +/- 0.4 m/s, P = .38). In the control subjects arterial stiffness showed a strong correlation with age and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.64, P = .02 and r = 0.58, P = .036, respectively). In patients with CCHD, arterial stiffness correlated with mean arterial pressure but not with age (r = 0.76, P = .002 and r =-0.13, P = .65, respectively). However, SI(DVP) correlated with hematocrit in CCHD patients (r = 0.69, P = .006), but not in healthy controls. The mean arterial pressure in patients with CCHD but not in controls showed a highly significant, positive correlation with the hematocrit level (r = 0.68, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Arterial stiffness in CCHD patients is affected by arterial pressure and hematocrit concentration but did not differ significantly from that in age-matched healthy controls. It is unlikely that increased arterial stiffness may contribute to cardio- and cerebrovascular complication in adults with CCHD.
BACKGROUND: Increased arterial stiffness is an important predictor of cardiovascular (CVS) morbidity and mortality. Adults suffering from cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) represent a population of patients at particular risk of CVS events. Erythrocytosis is a cardinal feature of CCHD but little is known about any possible interaction between hematological derangements and arterial stiffness. METHODS: Fourteen CCHD patients (6 men and 8 women, mean age 32 +/- 3 years) and 13 age-matched healthy subjects were recruited. RESULTS: Mean arterial stiffness, as estimated by stiffness index of digital volume pulse (SI(DVP)) values was similar in the 2 groups (7.9 +/- 0.7 m/s vs. 7.2 +/- 0.4 m/s, P = .38). In the control subjects arterial stiffness showed a strong correlation with age and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.64, P = .02 and r = 0.58, P = .036, respectively). In patients with CCHD, arterial stiffness correlated with mean arterial pressure but not with age (r = 0.76, P = .002 and r =-0.13, P = .65, respectively). However, SI(DVP) correlated with hematocrit in CCHD patients (r = 0.69, P = .006), but not in healthy controls. The mean arterial pressure in patients with CCHD but not in controls showed a highly significant, positive correlation with the hematocrit level (r = 0.68, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Arterial stiffness in CCHD patients is affected by arterial pressure and hematocrit concentration but did not differ significantly from that in age-matched healthy controls. It is unlikely that increased arterial stiffness may contribute to cardio- and cerebrovascular complication in adults with CCHD.
Authors: Christian M Pedersen; Michael R Schmidt; Bente Mortensen; Hussain Contractor; Hans Erik Bøtker; Rajesh K Kharbanda; Keld E Sørensen Journal: Pediatr Cardiol Date: 2009-07-30 Impact factor: 1.655
Authors: Lidia Tomkiewicz-Pajak; Hanna Dziedzic-Oleksy; Jacek Pajak; Maria Olszowska; Jacek Kolcz; Monika Komar; Piotr Podolec Journal: Cardiovasc Ultrasound Date: 2014-04-10 Impact factor: 2.062