Evaluation of Aortic Distensibility in Patients with Essential Hypertension by Using Cine Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In order to evaluate the exact distensibility in various parts of aorta in hypertensive patients, the authors performed cine magnetic resonance (MR) in 30 normal control (NC) subjects and 30 hypertensive (HT) patients whose age and sex were matched. Cine MR was carried out at transverse sections in the ascending, descending, and abdominal aorta. Aortic diameter and area were measured in the frames of the maximum and the minimum aortic area. Aortic distensibility was calculated from the following formula: (Max area — Min area)/(Min area x ΔP), where ΔP is pulse pressure. Cardiac parameters were measured with echocardiography in all subjects. Aortic distensibility was signifi cantly lower in HT patients than in NC subjects at each transverse section (P < 0.01). Minimum diameter index (Min diameter/body surface area) and cardiac function parameter showed no significant differences between NC and HT groups. From these findings, it is suspected that hypertension is a strongly contributing factor that promotes aortic sclerosis.