Chonnam Med J.  2016 May;52(2):101-106. 10.4068/cmj.2016.52.2.101.

Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness by Echocardiography: Methodological Aspects

• Cho JY
• Kim KH

• KMID: 2164319
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2016.52.2.101

Abstract

As humans age, degenerative changes in the arterial structure gradually progress and result in the stiffening of the arteries, which is called arteriosclerosis. Arterial stiffness is now an established risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This stiffening has adverse effects for both the general population as well as for patients with CVD. Measurements of pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analysis are the two most commonly used methods in the evaluation of arterial stiffness, but these methods just allow indirect measures of arterial stiffness. Echocardiography is the most widely used imaging modality in the evaluation of cardiac structure and function and with recent technical advances, it has become possible to evaluate the structure, function and blood flow hemodynamics of the arteries using echocardiography. In the present review, we will discuss the current status of echocardiography in the evaluation of arterial stiffness, especially focusing on the methodological aspects.

Keyword

Cardiovascular disease; Vascular stiffness; Echocardiographyx

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Arteriosclerosis
Cardiovascular Diseases
Echocardiography*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Pulse Wave Analysis
Risk Factors
Vascular Stiffness*

Figure

• 

  FIG. 1 Aging related changes of the arterial tree. I: intima, M: media, P: atheromatous plaque.

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  FIG. 2 Measurement of systolic (dashed line) and diastolic (solid line) arterial diameter in the ascending aorta (A), descending throracic aorta (B), and common carotid artery (C).

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  FIG. 3 Measurement of arterial area during diastole (A) and systole (B).

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  FIG. 4 Measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV) by Doppler echocardiographic recoding of 2 aortic sites. T1: time interval between the peak R wave on electrocardiography and the onset of PW Doppler signal of the descending thoracic aorta, T2: time interval between the peak R wave on electrocardiography and the onset of PW Doppler signal of the abdominal aortic bifurcation. D: distance between the beginning site of the descending thoracic aorta and the just above site of the abdominal aortic bifurcation. PWV can be calculated as (T2-T1)/(D).

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  FIG. 5 Measurements of circumferential strain of the descending thoracic aorta. Circumferential strain is significantly decreased in old hypertensive subject (B) than in young healthy subject (A).

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  FIG. 6 Measurements of global circumferential strain of the common carotid artery. Global circumferential strain is significantly decreased in old hypertensive subject (B) than in young healthy subject (A).

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