Association between hemodynamics in the common carotid artery and severity of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque burden evaluated by B-mode ultrasound have been used as relevant indicators for carotid atherosclerosis. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between hemodynamic parameters in the common carotid artery (CCA) and the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive patients. METHODS: Carotid IMT and plaque burden were evaluated in bilateral CCA, bifurcations, external and internal carotid arteries using duplex ultrasound in 80 untreated hypertensive patients. The patients were divided into four groups according to plaque burden. Hemodynamic parameters of CCA, including peak and mean circumferential wall tension (CWT), tensile stress (TS), wall shear stress (WSS), and Young's elastic modulus (YEM), were calculated after measurements of internal diameter (ID), IMT, and peak and mean flow velocities of CCA. Arterial stiffness was also assessed using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). RESULTS: Age, pulse pressure, creatinine, carotid IMT, and mean TS were shown to have significant differences among the four plaque groups (P < 0.05). Peak CWT and peak TS were also shown to have marginal differences. In univariate analysis, the peak and mean CWT and TS were significantly correlated with plaque score. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that carotid IMT, age, and peak CWT were independently associated with plaque score. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the CWT and TS of the CCA are associated with the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive patients. Hence, the hemodynamics of vessels may contribute to the plaque burden of low-resistance arteries.     

Cerebral white matter lesions in essential hypertension

The pathogenesis and clinical significance of cerebral white matter lesions (WML) remain controversial. Most studies have shown that age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a history of stroke or heart disease are the most important factors related to the presence of cerebral WML. Moreover, some studies suggest that the presence of WML are closely related to cerebrovascular disease and cognitive impairment in elderly patients with vascular risk factors, particularly hypertension. In this review, different points of view about cerebral WML are discussed, with special focus on the presence of WML in essential hypertension. Some authors suggest that the presence of WML in hypertensive patients could be considered an early marker of brain damage.     

Intrarenal and carotid hemodynamics in patients with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: The pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) are used as markers of peripheral vascular resistance. Recently intrarenal PI and RI were introduced for the evaluation of the severity of acute and chronic renal failure, as well as for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis and kidney graft rejection. In the present study, we evaluated intrarenal PI and RI in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with essential hypertension participated. The intima-media thickness (IMT) and mean diastolic (Vd) and systolic velocity (Vs) in the common carotid artery (CCA) were measured using ultrasound and Doppler flow methods. Relative diastolic flow velocity (Vd/Vs) was calculated as an assessment of CCA hemodynamics. Renal Doppler flow was obtained from the interlobar arteries in each of two kidneys. The mean PI ([peak systolic velocity--end-diastolic velocity]/mean velocity) and mean RI ([peak systolic velocity--end-diastolic velocity]/peak systolic velocity) were calculated. RESULTS: Intrarenal PI and RI were positively correlated with IMT and negatively correlated with Vd/Vs in CCA, indicating that renal vascular resistance is related to carotid stiffness. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that age and pulse pressure were independently associated with intrarenal PI and RI. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the measurement of PI and RI is useful for the evaluation of arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension.     

Cerebral hemodynamics and silent cerebral white matter lesions in middle-aged essential hypertensive patients

Cerebral white matter lesions (WML) represent a subclinical form of ischemic brain damage that have been associated with risk of future stroke. Studies have shown an association between WML and impaired cerebral autoregulation in hypertensives who had previously suffered a stroke. The aim of the study was to evaluate cerebral hemodynamics in asymptomatic hypertensives according to the presence or absence of WML. Fifty never-treated essential hypertensives (32 men, 18 women), aged 50-60 years, without clinical evidence of target organ damage were studied. All patients underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and brain-magnetic resonance imaging to establish the presence or absence of WML. Baseline cerebral blood flow velocity (CBF), pulsatility index (PI; differences between systolic and diastolic velocities), and CBF after acetazolamide infusion (vasomotor reactivity of cerebral vessels), were measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in both left and right middle cerebral arteries, and averaged. Twenty hypertensive patients (40%) were found to have WML on brain resonance. No differences were observed on resting and stimulating CBF between hypertensives with and without WML. In contrast, patients with WML exhibited significantly higher PI compared with hypertensives without WML (0.79 ± 0.13 vs 0.66 ± 0.12; p = 0.003). Moreover, PI correlated with 24-h pulse pressure (r = 0.361; p = 0.015). We conclude that the presence of silent WML in middle-aged hypertensives is associated with increased cerebrovascular pulsatility. This increased pulsatility is also associated with higher pulse pressure values, suggesting a pathogenetic link between pulse pressure, pulsatility and the development of WML.     

Association between carotid haemodynamics and inflammation in patients with essential hypertension

Previous studies have shown that high blood pressure causes chronic inflammation. Hypertensive patients are reported to have high-circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). The pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) are used as markers of peripheral vascular resistance. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between carotid haemodynamics and the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and hs-CRP. In all, 41 patients with essential hypertension participated. The intima-media thickness (IMT), peak systolic velocity (pVs), peak diastolic velocity (pVd) and mean velocity (mV) in the common carotid artery were measured using ultrasound Doppler flow methods, and PI [(pVs-pVd)/mV] and RI [(pVs-pVd)/pVs] were calculated. Serum IL-6 and hs-CRP concentrations were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IMT was positively correlated with age and pulse pressure. Both PI and RI were positively correlated with pulse pressure, IL-6 and hs-CRP. A multiple regression analysis revealed that PI and RI were independently associated with hs-CRP. These results suggested that carotid haemodynamic parameters such as PI and RI are associated with atherosclerosis and inflammation in hypertensive patients.     

老年原发性高血压患者卧立位血压改变与脑白质损害的相关性

目的探讨老年原发性高血压患者卧立位血压改变与脑白质损害的关系。方法自2012年5月~2013年7月于禹城市人民医院筛选住院的老年高血压患者287例,根据卧立位收缩压变化值(OC)三分位分为低OC组92例,中OC组102例和高OC组93例。所有受试者接受头颅MRI扫描,检测脑白质高信号体积及脑白质高信号分数。结果高OC组脑白质高信号体积和脑白质高信号分数显著高于低OC组及中OC组[(10.82±3.19)ml vs(6.48±2.83)ml和(7.58±3.65)ml,P0.05;(0.71±0.24)%vs(0.50±0.21)%和(0.53±0.25)%,P0.05]。OC及卧立位舒张压变化值均与脑白质高信号体积(r=0.499,r=0.328,P0.01)及脑白质高信号分数(r=0.358,r=0.220,P0.01)呈显著正相关。OC是脑白质高信号体积和脑白质高信号分数的独立影响因素(95%CI:0.098~0.149,95%CI:0.004~0.008,P0.01)。结论 OC与老年原发性高血压患者脑白质损害相关。     

Associations of plasma endothelin concentration with carotid atherosclerosis and asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesions in patients with essential hypertension.

We studied the association of endothelin (ET)-1 with carotid atherosclerosis and asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesions in patients with essential hypertension. Neurologically normal patients with essential hypertension (n=293; 138 male, 155 female; mean age, 65 years) and age-matched control subjects (n=242) were studied with B-mode ultrasonography of the common and internal carotid arteries and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Plasma ET-1 was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Hypertensive patients were divided into groups with carotid plaques and low ET-1 concentrations (< 0.75 pg/ml; PL group); carotid plaques and mid-range ET-1 (0.75 to 1.55 pg/ml; PM group); carotid plaques and high ET-1 (> or = 1.55 pg/ml; PH group); no plaques and low ET-1 (NPL); no plaques and mid-range ET-1 (NPM); and no plaques and high ET-1 (NPH). Overall, ET-1 concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in control subjects. Carotid plaque prevalence was significantly related to ET-1 in hypertensive patients. ET-1 showed a significant positive relationship with the number of asymptomatic lacunar infarcts of the brain in hypertensive patients with carotid plaques (rho=0.48, p<0.001). No significant relationship was seen between ET-1 and periventricular hyperintensity scores in patients with plaques. ET-1 did not show a relationship to either brain lesion type in patients without carotid plaques. Thus, ET-1 may foster asymptomatic lacunar cerebral infarcts by promoting carotid atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.     

Association between white matter hyperintensities volume and cognitive function in patients with hypertension

<正>Objective To explore the association between white matter hyperintensities volume and cognitive function in patients with hypertension. Methods Eighty-two patients with hypertension enrolled from the Department of Neurology of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January     

老老年原发性高血压患者脑白质病变与夜间血压下降率的相关性

目的探讨在老老年（≥80岁）原发性高血压患者中,动态血压状况与脑白质病变（WML）的相关性。方法我们回顾性地选取了高血压患者共130例,均行头颅磁共振检查和动态血压监测,并同时收集患者的临床和实验室数据,并应用年龄相关的脑白质视觉评定法评分将患者分为三组：轻度WML,中度WML,重度WML。结果在三组患者之间,夜间平均收缩压、夜间平均舒张压及夜间血压下降率的差异有统计学意义;并且与轻度WML组相比,中度WML和重度WML组患者非杓型血压的发生率显著升高。进一步的多因素logistic回归分析示,夜间舒张压升高和夜间血压下降率减小是WML的独立的危险因素。结论在老老年原发性高血压患者中,夜间血压异常升高以及昼夜节律的异常在WML的进展中起重要作用。     

Silent cerebral white matter lesions in middle-aged essential hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE : Age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a history of cardiovascular disease are the most important factors related to the presence of cerebral white matter lesions (WML), which are a common finding in elderly people. This study investigates which factors related to hypertension per se are associated with the presence of WML in asymptomatic, middle-aged, never-treated essential hypertensive patients. METHODS : A total of 66 untreated essential hypertensive patients of both genders, aged 50-60 years, with neither diabetes mellitus nor evidence of cardiovascular disease, were studied. Hypertensive patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of WML in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS : A total of 39 (59.1%) hypertensives showed no WML in brain MRI, and 27 (40.9%) exhibited the presence of WML. Compared with hypertensives without WML, patients with WML showed significantly higher values of both office and 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) systolic, diastolic, mean and pulse pressure. No differences were observed in either the nocturnal fall of blood pressure, or in blood pressure variability, assessed by 24 h standard deviation, among hypertensives with WML. In contrast, the nocturnal decline of heart rate was significantly blunted in patients with WML, compared with those without WML. CONCLUSIONS : Cerebral white matter lesions are a common finding in asymptomatic middle-aged essential hypertensives. The severity of blood pressure elevation seems to be the most important factor related to the presence of WML. Neither the circadian rhythm nor the long-term variability of blood pressure were related to WML.     

老年患者颈动脉彩色超声检查指标与脑白质病变相关性分析

目的通过颈动脉彩色超声检查和头颅MRI检查探讨颈动脉粥样硬化与老年脑白质病变(white matter lesion,WML)的相互关系。方法选择2018年4～7月北京大学国际医院神经内科住院的老年患者112例,其中男性73例,女性39例。所有患者入院后行颈动脉彩色超声检查,检测双侧颈动脉内膜中层厚度、斑块数量、斑块回声性质、最大斑块厚度、狭窄数量和狭窄程度。头颅MRI检查包括T1WI、T2WI、轴位弥散加权成像、T2液体衰减反转恢复序列,并依据MRI采用Fazekas评分法对每例患者进行WML严重程度评分。分析颈动脉彩色超声检查指标与WML评分的关系。结果男性患者WML评分(1.86±1.72)分,女性患者WML评分(1.74±1.80)分,差异无统计学意义(t=0.344,P=0.731)。Pearson相关性分析显示,年龄与WML评分呈正相关(r=0.412,P0.01)。以年龄做控制项,偏相关分析显示,颈动脉斑块总数量、最大斑块厚度、狭窄总数量、狭窄程度与WML评分不相关(P0.05)。logistic回归分析显示,颈动脉内膜中层厚度和斑块性质与WML评分仍不相关(P0.05)。结论颈动脉彩色超声检查指标与老年WML评分不相关。     

Intrarenal hemodynamics in patients with essential hypertension

Intrarenal hemodynamics were estimated clinically in essential hypertension. Two-week studies were performed in 30 patients with essential hypertension who were given a regular sodium diet in the first week and a sodium-restricted diet in the second week. Intrarenal hemodynamic parameters such as afferent arteriolar (preglomerular) resistance, efferent arteriolar resistance, and glomerular hydrostatic pressure were calculated from renal clearances and plasma total protein concentration measured on the last day of the regular sodium diet. Calculations were based on Gomez's equations with the assumption that the gross filtration coefficient of glomerular capillaries was normal. The increase in afferent arteriolar resistance (8,100 +/- 500 dyne.sec.cm-5) was significantly correlated with an elevation in mean arterial pressure (120 +/- 2 mm Hg), whereas glomerular pressure (56 +/- 1 mm Hg) and efferent arteriolar resistance (2,500 +/- 100 dyne.sec.cm-5) remained normal. The renal function curve (pressure-natriuresis relation) was drawn by plotting urinary sodium excretion on the y axis as a function of mean arterial pressure on the x axis, both of which were measured on the last 3 days of each week. The extrapolated x intercept (107 +/- 2 mm Hg) of the renal function curve was strongly correlated in a 1:1 fashion with the sum of the arterial pressure drop from the aorta to the renal glomeruli plus the opposing pressures against glomerular filtration at glomeruli (r = 0.7, p less than 0.001) on the regular sodium diet, suggesting that the difference between mean arterial pressure on the regular sodium diet and the extrapolated x intercept represented the effective filtration pressure across the glomerular capillaries on the regular sodium diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Association of carotid hemodynamics with risk of coronary heart disease in a Taiwanese population with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: The resistive index (RI) of the carotid artery is a hemodynamic parameter that depends on the degree of vascular resistance in hypertensive patients. The pulsatility index (PI) of the carotid artery was shown to be associated with microangiopathy in diabetic patients. In contrast to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), no study has yet applied the carotid RI and PI to estimate coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. METHODS: Framingham risk scores (FRS) were determined for 62 patients (32 women; mean age 65 years (range 35-83)) with essential hypertension. Duplex sonography of the common carotid artery (CCA) was performed, with determination of RI, PI, and IMT. RESULTS: The mean FRS of all patients was 14.3% (range 1-30%), the mean IMT value of CCA was 0.89 +/- 0.23 mm, the mean RI was 0.71 +/- 0.07, and the mean PI was 1.46 +/- 0.39. FRS was found to have highly significant correlations with RI and PI (r = 0.47, P < 0.001 and r = 0.45, P < 0.001, respectively). The correlation between FRS and IMT was also significant (r = 0.41, P = 0.001). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that RI was an independent determinant of the risk of CHD. CONCLUSIONS: Although RI indirectly reflected the atherosclerotic process, the correlation between RI and CHD risk was comparable to the well-known correlation between cardiovascular event and carotid IMT. Hence, carotid RI can be used as a tool for risk stratification in Taiwanese patients with essential hypertension.     

Association between arterial stiffness and cerebral white matter lesions in community-dwelling elderly subjects.

The presence of cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) on MRI is suggested to be a predictive factor for vascular dementia and stroke. To investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and WMLs, we performed brain MRI to evaluate the presence of two subtypes of WML-periventricular hyperintensities (PVH) and deep white matter lesions (DWML)-and furthermore, determined the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) as a marker of arterial stiffness in 132 elderly asymptomatic subjects (49 men and 83 women, 70.3+/-9.0 years). PVH and DWML were observed in 41 (31.0%) and 53 (40.2%) subjects, respectively. The ba-PWV values were significantly greater in subjects with PVH than in those without. DWML also tended to be associated with ba-PWV, but the correlation was not statistically significant. In multiple logistic regression analysis, age and decreased DBP were independently associated with PVH. ba-PWV was also detected as an independent factor for the appearance of PVH (adjusted odds ratio: 2.84, p=0.015) but not DWML. These results indicate that the increase in arterial stiffness contributes to the pathogenesis of PVH rather than DWML. Although further study is needed to clarify the difference between WML subtypes, our study suggests that the measurement of ba-PWV is a simple and useful tool for detecting cerebral arterial dysfunction.     

高血压患者血清瘦素、抵抗素水平与颈动脉内膜-中层厚度的关系

目的:探讨原发性高血压患者血清瘦素、抵抗素水平的变化及与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关关系.方法:入选80例原发性高血压患者(病例组),另选32例健康对照者.采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清瘦素、抵抗素水平;采用彩色超声诊断仪测定颈动脉内膜-中层厚度(IMT).结果:病例组的瘦素(t=-2.530,P=0.013)和抵抗素水平(t=-2.077,P=0.041)均高于对照组.病例组的颈动脉IMT(t=-3.115,P=0.003)和颈动脉最大IMT(t=-3.271,P=0.002)均大于对照组.Pearson相关分析示,高血压患者血清瘦素与IMT(r=0.311,P=0.012)和最大IMT(r=0.308,P=0.013)呈显著正相关;血清抵抗素与IMT(r=0.335,P=0.006)和最大IMT(r=0.284,P=0.022)呈显著正相关.结论:原发性高血压患者的血清瘦素、抵抗素水平显著升高,且它们和颈动脉IMT存在相关性.     

老年原发性高血压脉压与脑血流动力学变化关系的研究

目的　探讨老年原发性高血压脉压与脑血流动力学变化的关系。为高血压防治、减少脑卒中的发生提供依据。　 方法　将 77例老年原发性高血压患者按脉压≤ 60mmHg、61～ 90mmHg、>90mmHg分为 3组 ,用经颅多普勒 (TCD)监测分析 ,观察大脑中动脉 (MCA)的收缩期血流速度 (Vs)、平均血流速度 (Vm)、舒张期血流速度(Vd)、搏动指数 (PI)、阻力指数 (RI)、收缩期与舒张期血流速度比值 (SD)的变化特征 ,并与收缩压 (SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、平均动脉压 (MAP)、脉压 (PP)进行了相关分析。　 结果 　随着年龄增大 ,PP逐渐增大 (P <0 0 1) ,Vd降低(P <0 0 5 ) ,PI、RI增高 (P <0 0 1) ,SD比值增大 (P <0 0 1) ;SBP、PP与SD、PI、RI呈明显正相关 (P <0 0 1) ,DBP与SD、PI、RI呈明显负相关 (P <0 0 5 ) ,MAP均与脑血流各指标无明显相关 (P >0 0 5 )。　 结论 　老年原发性高血压患者随着PP增大 ,脑血管损害加重 ,脑血流动力学的变化与SBP、PP密切相关。     

老年高血压患者收缩压晨峰与脑白质损害的相关性

目的探讨老年高血压患者收缩压晨峰与脑白质损害的相关性。方法选择2015年10月~2016年10月山东省章丘地区筛选的老年原发性高血压患者337例。所有患者进行24h动态血压监测,根据收缩压晨峰现象分为晨峰组150例和非晨峰组187例。采用头颅MRI评估脑白质高信号(white matter hyperintensities,WMH)水平。结果晨峰组总WMH、脑室周围WMH、深部WMH明显高于非晨峰组[(9.05±2.71)ml vs(6.31±2.33)ml,(6.89±2.32)ml vs(4.48±2.02)ml,(2.17±0.89)ml vs(1.83±0.72)ml,P0.01]。收缩压晨峰与总WMH、脑室周围WMH、深部WMH呈正相关(r=0.561,r=0.563,r=0.283,P0.01)。校正混杂因素后,收缩压晨峰是总WMH、脑室周围WMH、深部WMH的独立影响因素(r=0.479,r=0.486,r=0.208,P0.01)。结论收缩压晨峰为脑白质高信号的独立危险因素。     

超声检测原发性高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化和颅内动脉血流动力学的变化

目的探讨高血压病患者颈动脉粥样硬化及颅内动脉血流动力学的变化。方法选择107例原发性高血压患者，将其分为单纯高血压病组（63例）和高血压合并心、脑血管病组（44例）；另外选择53名体格检查正常者为对照组。采用彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）及经颅多普勒超声（TCD）对患者颅内动脉及颈动脉进行检测。结果TCD颅内动脉检测结果提示，单纯高血压组和高血压合并心、脑血管病组舒张期末血流速度较对照组明显减低（P〈0．01）；血管搏动指数及阻力指数均高下对照组（P〈0．01）。单纯高血压病组颈动脉内膜（IMT）增厚及斑块检出率分别为73．02％（46／63）和50．79％（32／63），高血压合并心脑血管病组检出率均为100％，对照组为20．75％（11／53）、19．98％（9／53），三组比较差异均有显著性，P〈0．01。结论高血压是引起颅内外动脉硬化病变的重要危险因素；CDFI结合TCD可以对高血压病患者颅内、外动脉血流动力学的变化进行客观的评价。     

Silent cerebral white matter lesions and cognitive function in middle-aged essential hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: An association between midlife blood pressure levels and late-life cognitive impairment has been reported. Hypertension is one of the most important factors related to the presence of cerebral white matter lesions, which is a prognostic factor for the development of cognitive impairment. Studies have shown a relationship between white matter lesions and cognitive decline in elderly hypertensive patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cognitive function in asymptomatic middle-aged hypertensive patients according to the presence or absence of white matter lesions. METHODS: Sixty never-treated essential hypertensive patients (38 men, 22 women), aged 50 to 60 years (mean age, 54.4 +/- 3.8 years), without clinical evidence of target organ damage, were studied. All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to establish the presence or absence of white matter lesions, using the Rotterdam criteria. Cognitive function was evaluated by a neuropsychologic test battery measuring attention, memory, intelligence, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS: Twenty-three hypertensive patients (38%) were found to have white matter lesions on brain resonance. These patients exhibited a significantly worse performance on digit span forward, a standardized measure of attention than hypertensives without white matter lesions (4.86 +/- 1.14 v 5.51 +/- 0.97; P =.027). Hypertensive patients with white matter lesions showed no differences on both visual and logical memory tests when compared with patients without lesions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the presence of silent cerebral white matter lesions in middle-aged hypertensive patients is associated with a mild decline in basic attention.