Augmentation index and aortic pulse wave velocity in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a severe disease that can prove fatal. Factors such as advanced age, male gender, family history and cigarette use increase the risk of AAA. These factors associated with AAA development also increase arterial stiffness. Aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of aortic stiffness. The heart rate-corrected augmentation index (AIx@75) was estimated as a composite marker of wave reflections and arterial stiffness. Elevated arterial stiffness increases the risk of development of cardiovascular events and impairs cardiovascular functions. In this study we investigated whether arterial stiffness rises in patients with AAA by measuring aortic PWV and AIx@75 parameters. METHODS Eighteen patients with AAA (age 69 ± 4 years) and 20 patients with no aneurysm (age 66 ± 6) were included. AAA was diagnosed using computerized tomography. Arterial stiffness was measured non-invasively in all patients using a SphygmoCor device. Aortic PWV and AIx@75 were used as arterial stiffness parameters. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics. AIx@75 (33.2 ± 8.9 vs 25.1 ± 7.8, p=0.008) and aortic PWV (14.8 ± 4.9 vs 10.0 ± 1.7, p=0.002) were significantly elevated in the AAA group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION Elevated AIx@75 and aortic PWV shows that arterial stiffness increases in patients with AAA.