Mismatch between arterial stiffness increase and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

Po-Chao Hsu1, Tsung-Hsien Lin, Chee-Siong Lee

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Heart and Vessels
|October 12, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness, measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), did not progressively increase with worsening left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in a diverse patient group. Advanced diastolic dysfunction may not correlate with increased arterial stiffness.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Physiology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Previous research linked decreased left ventricular (LV) diastolic function to increased arterial stiffness in patients with preserved LV systolic function.
  • The relationship between arterial stiffness and LV diastolic dysfunction in a heterogeneous population with varying LV systolic function remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between arterial stiffness and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function across a wide spectrum of LV systolic function.
  • To determine if arterial stiffness progressively increases with the grade of LV diastolic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • A study population of 267 subjects was analyzed, including 75 with depressed LV systolic function and 192 with preserved LV systolic function.
  • Arterial stiffness was assessed using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).
  • LV diastolic function was categorized into normal, impaired relaxation, pseudonormal, and restrictive types via echocardiography.

Main Results:

  • Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was significantly lower in patients with normal diastolic function compared to those with abnormal diastolic function (p ≤ 0.001).
  • A progressive increase in baPWV was not observed as the grade of LV diastolic dysfunction increased.
  • Multivariate analysis identified increased age, systolic blood pressure, and decreased LV ejection fraction, transmitral A velocity, and left atrial volume index as correlates of increased baPWV (p ≤ 0.039).

Conclusions:

  • There was no positive correlation found between echocardiographic LV diastolic parameters and baPWV.
  • Arterial stiffness (baPWV) did not progressively rise with increasing LV diastolic dysfunction grade.
  • These findings suggest that patients with advanced LV diastolic dysfunction may not necessarily exhibit increased arterial stiffness.

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