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Association between atherosclerotic aortic plaques and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with cerebrovascular

João Carlos Hueb1, Silméia G Zanati, Katashi Okoshi

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, otucatu Medical School-Unesp, Sao Paulo, Brazil. jchueb@uol.com.br

Stroke
|March 11, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is strongly linked to aortic plaque in stroke patients. Echocardiogram-detected LVH may indicate a need for further aortic imaging in these individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cerebrovascular events, such as stroke and transient ischemic attack, are significant health concerns.
  • Atherosclerotic plaque in the thoracic aorta and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are known cardiovascular risk factors.
  • The relationship between these conditions in patients with a history of cerebrovascular events requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if there is an association between atherosclerotic plaque in the thoracic aorta and LVH.
  • To assess the diagnostic value of LVH in identifying aortic atherosclerosis in patients with prior cerebrovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study included 116 patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack.
  • Transthoracic echocardiogram was used to diagnose LVH, and transesophageal echocardiogram detected thoracic aortic atheromas.
  • Statistical analyses, including multivariate logistic regression adjusted for hypertension and age, were performed.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half (43.1%) of the patients had atherosclerotic aortic lesions.
  • LVH was present in 90.0% of patients with plaque versus 30.3% without plaque.
  • LVH significantly increased the risk of aortic plaque (18.23-fold with hypertension, 26.36-fold with age).

Conclusions:

  • LVH, identified via echocardiography, is significantly associated with a high risk of aortic atherosclerotic plaque.
  • LVH can serve as a criterion for indicating transesophageal echocardiography in patients with a history of stroke or TIA.
  • This finding highlights the importance of assessing cardiac structure in cerebrovascular patients to identify cardiovascular risks.
Abstract

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