Abstract
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Although early reports suggested that hypertension predisposed to aortic root enlargement and consequent aortic regurgitation, more recent pathological and M-mode echocardiographic studies have not found an association between hypertension and aortic root enlargement when age is considered.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study is to asses the effect of hypertension on aortic root size and to estimate the prevalence of aortic regurgitation.
METHODS:
measurement of two-dimensional echocardiographic diameters of the aortic root at four locations and compared findings with resting blood pressures and measures of body BMI in 110 normotensive and 110 hypertensive men and women matched for age and sex.Colour and continuous wave Doppler study are used to diagnose and assess severity of aortic regurgitation.
RESULTS:
Aortic diameters at the anulus (2.40±0.29 versus 2.33±0.24 cm, P=.06) and sinuses (3.45±0.43 versus 3.35±0.35cm, P=.08) were marginally higher, whereas diameters at the supra-aortic ridge (2.93±0.39versus 2.73±0.33cm, P
Keywords
such a difference in this population of
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asymptomatic hypertensive individuals.
Keywords
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