Elastic aortic properties in patients with X syndrome

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Vascular Biology
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Aortic elastic properties are crucial for left ventricular function and coronary blood flow.
• Limited data exist on aortic stiffness in patients diagnosed with cardiac syndrome X.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess aortic stiffness and distensibility in patients with cardiac syndrome X.
• To evaluate arterial wall motion velocities using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in this patient group.

Main Methods:

• Studied 15 patients with cardiac syndrome X and 15 healthy controls.
• Measured thoracic aortic diameters via M-mode echocardiography to calculate aortic distensibility and stiffness index (β index).
• Utilized tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to assess aortic wall expansion and retraction velocities, and peak systolic strain.

Main Results:

• Patients with cardiac syndrome X showed significantly lower aortic distensibility (3.2 ± 1.3 vs. 7.95 ± 4 cm²/dyne⁻¹, p<0.001) and higher stiffness index (7.3 ± 2.1 vs. 4.1 ± 1.6, p<0.001) compared to controls.
• Aortic wall tissue strain was significantly reduced in patients with syndrome X (-12.80 ± 7% vs. -22.3 ± 5.9%, p<0.00001).
• Peak systolic and diastolic velocities (S, E, A waves) by TDI were comparable between groups.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac syndrome X is associated with impaired aortic elasticity.
• The findings suggest that cardiac syndrome X may represent a more generalized vascular disturbance.