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Aortic valve calcification and increased stiffness of the proximal thoracic ascending aorta: association with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and early chronic kidney disease

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the severity of aortic valve calcification (AVC) and stiffness of the proximal thoracic ascending aorta (TAA), and to examine their influence on left ventricular (LV) function and renal function.

Methods

A total of 138 hypertensive patients including 32 with diabetes mellitus and 60 with dyslipidemia were divided into four groups based on the severity of AVC. We analyzed the elastic properties of the proximal TAA from the following strain-rate indices based on tissue Doppler imaging: maximum strain rate [SR(+)], minimum SR [SR(−)], and the time between the QRS peak and the peak SR(−) of the proximal TAA (SRT).

Results

SR(+) and SRT were significantly greater in patients with moderate AVC than in patients with mild AVC. SRT and SR(−) were well correlated with age, peak velocity across AV, TAA wall thickness (IMC), LV diastolic function, and renal function. SRT was independently related to IMC, dyslipidemia, and LV diastolic function.

Conclusion

The severity of AVC was correlated with the elastic properties of the proximal TAA. The SR indices are useful for assessing the relation of TAA stiffness to LV function and renal function in patients with AVC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan

    Hiroshi Honma, Tadaaki Ohno, Yukichi Tokita, Hiroyuki Fujimoto, Aya Yoshinaga, Shoko Sato, Tomoko Yokoshima, Keiko Ito & Kyoichi Mizuno

  2. Laboratory of Ultrasonography, Nippon Medical School Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Tsuyako Matsuzaki

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Honma
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  2. Tadaaki Ohno
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  3. Yukichi Tokita
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  4. Tsuyako Matsuzaki
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  5. Hiroyuki Fujimoto
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  6. Aya Yoshinaga
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  7. Shoko Sato
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  8. Tomoko Yokoshima
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  9. Keiko Ito
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  10. Kyoichi Mizuno
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroshi Honma.

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Honma, H., Ohno, T., Tokita, Y. et al. Aortic valve calcification and increased stiffness of the proximal thoracic ascending aorta: association with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and early chronic kidney disease. J Med Ultrasonics 38, 179–186 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-011-0318-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-011-0318-7

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