Objective
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is one of the most frequently seen cardiac disorders. The basic pathophysiologic mechanism is deterioration in the connective tissue leading to increased elasticity of mitral leaflets. Elasticity of the aorta which is a well established predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes may also differ in these patients when alteration in the connective tissue is considered. The aim of this study is to investigate the elastic properties of the aorta in patients with MVP.
Methods
Thirty seven patients with MVP and 38 healthy controls were evaluated in terms of aortic elastic properties using aortic strain, aortic stiffness index and aortic distensibility.Following parameters of the aortic elasticity were calculated according to the following formulas: Aortic strain = [(Systolic aortic diameter – Diastolic aortic diameter)/Diastolic aortic diameter], Aortic stiffness (β) index = ln (systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure)/ aortic strain, Aortic distensibility = 2 x aortic strain/pulse pressure.
Methods
Thirty seven patients with MVP and 38 healthy controls were evaluated in terms of aortic elastic properties using aortic strain, aortic stiffness index and aortic distensibility.Following parameters of the aortic elasticity were calculated according to the following formulas: Aortic strain = [(Systolic aortic diameter – Diastolic aortic diameter)/Diastolic aortic diameter], Aortic stiffness (β) index = ln (systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure)/ aortic strain, Aortic distensibility = 2 x aortic strain/pulse pressure.
Results
There was no significant difference between MVP and control groups by means of age, gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, smoking status, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels Median value for aortic strain was 0.07 (0.0338-0.231) in MVP group and 0.079 (0.0345-0.28) in the control group (p=0.359). Aortic stiffness was calculated on the basis of aortic strain. The mean value for stiffness index was 6.87 ± 3.59 and 6.21 ± 2.83 in the MVP and control groups respectively (p=0.388). Distensibility of the aorta was quantified with a median value of 3286 (1229-12700) in patients with MVP and 3400 (1087-13790) in healthy subjects (p=0.346). Eventually, when the aortic elastic parameters were compared (aortic strain, stiffness index and distensibility), no difference was found between MVP and control groups.
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