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Age-associated changes in arterial elastic properties in children.
Hideaki Senzaki1, Michio Akagi, Toshio Hishi
1Saitama Heart Institutes, Saitama Medical School Hospital, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Iruma-Gun, Saitama, 350-0495 Japan. hsenzaki@saitama-med.ac.jp
European Journal of Pediatrics
|September 26, 2002
Summary
Arterial stiffness increases in children as they age, with arterial compliance normalized to body surface area decreasing significantly. This study quantifies these age-associated changes in pediatric arterial properties.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiology
- Vascular physiology
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Age-associated changes in arterial pulsatile properties in children are not well-documented.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing pediatric vascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reference ranges for age-associated changes in arterial pulsatile properties in children.
- To quantify changes in arterial compliance and stiffness in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Cardiac catheterization was performed on 112 pediatric patients (6 months to 20 years).
- Arterial compliance (C(A)) was calculated using the area method.
- Aortic wall stiffness was assessed using the pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep).
Main Results:
- Arterial compliance (C(A)) significantly increased with age.
- Arterial compliance normalized to body surface area (C(A)/BSA) significantly decreased with age.
- Aortic wall stiffness (Ep) significantly increased with age.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral and proximal arterial wall distensibility decline after birth in children.
- Total arterial buffering capacity increases with age.
- Provides the first in vivo quantification of age-associated arterial elastic properties in children.