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Aortic stiffness as a tissue biomarker for predicting future cardiovascular events in asymptomatic hypertensive

Stephane Laurent1, Maureen Alivon, Hélène Beaussier

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, European Georges Pompidou Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Inserm U970 and University Paris Descartes, France. stephane.laurent@egp.aphp.fr

Annals of Medicine
|June 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness measurement improves cardiovascular risk assessment in hypertensive patients. It identifies individuals at high risk, preventing misclassification and enabling early intervention for stroke and myocardial infarction prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biomarkers
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Classical risk scores may underestimate cardiovascular event risk in specific groups like asymptomatic hypertensive individuals.
  • Arterial stiffness and wave reflection are key determinants of blood pressure increase in aging populations, contributing significantly to stroke and myocardial infarction.
  • Arterial stiffness measurement offers predictive value for cardiovascular events beyond traditional risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review arterial stiffness as a 'tissue' biomarker for cardiovascular risk.
  • To explore the methodology and pathophysiological links of arterial stiffness in relation to cardiovascular events.
  • To discuss whether arterial stiffness serves as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular events.
  • Discussion of measurement methodologies for aortic stiffness.
  • Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms linking arterial stiffness to stroke and myocardial infarction.

Main Results:

  • Arterial stiffness is a significant predictor of cardiovascular events, independent of classical risk factors.
  • Aortic stiffening indicates target organ damage and refines cardiovascular risk assessment in hypertensive patients.
  • Measuring aortic stiffness can prevent misclassification of asymptomatic hypertensive individuals into lower-risk categories.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial stiffness is a crucial biomarker for assessing cardiovascular risk, particularly in hypertensive patients.
  • Measurement of arterial stiffness provides objective evidence of target organ damage.
  • Arterial stiffness assessment is vital for accurate risk stratification and timely preventive strategies against stroke and myocardial infarction.

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