Journal of cardiovascular medicine
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Nov 2014
How arterial stiffness may affect coronary blood flow: a challenging pathophysiological link.
A relationship between arterial stiffening and coronary flow abnormalities, although not fully elucidated, has been observed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among carotid stiffness, measured using echo-tracking, and Doppler parameters of coronary blood flow, sampled at the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. ⋯ Increased arterial stiffness, directly affecting coronary perfusion, is associated with reduced diastolic coronary flow. Echo-tracking for feasible measurement of carotid artery stiffness parameters may be valuable in more accurate cardiovascular risk stratification.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Nov 2014
Interplay between arterial stiffness and diastolic function: a marker of ventricular-vascular coupling.
We evaluated the interplay between left ventricular diastolic function and large-artery stiffness in asymptomatic patients at increased risk of heart failure and no structural heart disease (Stage A). ⋯ An independent association between grade I left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness is demonstrated at the earliest stage of heart failure. Hence, assessment of vascular function, beyond cardiac function, should be included in a comprehensive clinical evaluation of these patients.