Doppler echocardiographic study of arterial distensibility. Comparison with ambulatory arterial pressure monitoring

Echocardiography Doppler (ED) is a common tool in hypertension to assess left ventricular (LV) mass or LV function. Echography doppler is also available to assess some arterial distensibility (AD) indexes, but it is less frequently used. The aim of this study is to compare AD indexes obtained from échographie doppler with timing of Korotkoff sound (QKd interval), obtained from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (APM). Sixty-two patients with or without cardiac diseases were prospectively enrolled, except those with left bundle branch, atrial fibrillation or pacemaker. Echography doppler study collected timing of abdominal pulse (QtAA), interval time between Q ECG and the foot of doppler wave velocity in abdominal aorta pulse wave velocity (PWV) between two points of descending thoracic aorta; and Stroke index. APM study collected simultaneous usual pressure indexes (systolic diastolic, pulse pressure) instantaneous and over 24 h, and QKd interval times between Q ECG and diastolic Korotkoff sound instantaneous and over 24 h. Absolute AD Index (Burton index) was defined as Stroke index/pulse pressure. QtAA intra observer variability was the coefficient of variation (mean/SD). QtAA inter observer variability was QtAA assessments by two observers. RESULTS: QtAA was correlated with QKdi (r = 0.78; p < 0.001) and QKd24 h (r = 0.64; p < 0.001). PWV was correlated with QKdi (r = 0.35; p = 0.009), but not with QKd24 h (r = 0.17; p = 0.24, NS). Burton index was correlated with QKdi (r = 0.48; p < 0.001), and QKd24 h (r = 0.53; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Echography doppler may provide some arterial distensibility indexes. Among these indexes, QtAA is easy to obtain and well correlated with QKd. However, further studies are needed to assess normal and pathological values.