Biomechanical properties of the ascending aorta in patients with arterial hypertension by velocity vector imaging

Aortic stiffness is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events and morbidity. Increased aortic stiffness is associated with an increase in cardiac and vascular hypertension-related organ damage. To evaluate the biomechanical properties of the ascending aorta (AA) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) by velocity vector imaging (VVI). Ninety-five patients with AH and 53 normal healthy control participants were prospectively enrolled. AA biomechanical properties, i.e., ascending aortic global longitudinal strain (ALS), ascending aortic global circumferential strain (ACS), and fractional area change (FAC), were evaluated by VVI. Relative wall thickness (RWT) and left ventricular mass (LVM) were calculated. Pulsed Doppler early transmitral peak flow velocity (E), early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e′), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), distensibility (D) and stiffness index (SI) of AA were also obtained. The ALS, ACS and FAC were significantly lower in the AH patients, especially in those with ascending aorta dilatation (AAD), than in the normal healthy control subjects. The patients with AAD had a higher E/e′ ratio, RWT, LVM and SI and a lower GLS and D than patients without AAD and normal healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). There were significant associations between biomechanical properties and D, SI, E/e′ and GLS (ALS and D: r = 0.606, ALS and SI: r = − 0.645, ALS and E/e′: r = − 0.489, ALS and GLS: r = 0.466, ACS and D: r = 0.564, ACS and SI: r = − 0.567, ACS and E/e′: r = − 0.313, ACS and GLS: r = 0.320, FAC and D: r = 0.649, FAC and SI: r = − 0.601, FAC and E/e′: r = − 0.504, FAC and GLS: r = 0.524, respectively, p < 0.05). The biomechanical properties of AA were impaired in patients with AH, especially patients with ascending aorta dilatation. Hypertension is associated with a high prevalence of diastolic and systolic dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness. Further study is needed to evaluate the clinical application of AA biomechanical properties by VVI.