Coexistence of Hypertension and Ascending Aortic Aneurysm: Can Aortic Stiffness Be Evaluated with an Oscillometric Arteriograph Device?

Objective: We aimed to compare central blood pressure, central pulse pressure, and parameters like augmentation index (Aix) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), which are used to evaluate arterial stiffness using an oscillometric method called arteriography, among hypertensive patients with and without concomitant ascending aortic aneurysms. Methods: : A total of 83 patients were included in this study, including 44 consecutive patients with hypertension (HT) diagnosed and ascending aortic (AA) diamater 40 mm or more detected by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and 39 controls with HT diagnosed and normal AA diameter. Results: : E/e’ ratio was found to be significantly higher in the aneurysm group (9,05±2,24 vs 7,75±1,94, p<0.05). The difference between peripheral and central systolic blood pressures was found to be significantly lower in the aneurysm group compared to the control group (9,3±4,5 vs 11,8±4,1, p<0.05, respectively). Among the examined arterial stiffness parameters, Aix values were significantly higher in the aneurysm group (27±8,7 vs 22,7±9,6, p0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the use of the osilometric arteriograph device is a simple, cost-effective, and reliable method for assessing increased aortic stiffness in patients coexistence HT and AA aneurysm. We also mention an interesting point about the potential relationship between the development of AA aneurysm and elevated aortic stiffness in hypertensive patients.