Published online before print April 7, 2008, doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.112102
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(Hypertension. 2008;51:e38.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.
Letters to the Editor |
Questions Regarding the Aortic Measurements of Mitchell et al
Division of Cardiology, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY
Mitchell et al1 conclude that reduced proximal aortic diameters, in addition to wall stiffness, account for the increase in pulse pressure associated with systolic hypertension. This observation is surprising in view of the strong relations of aging to both systolic hypertension and progressive aortic dilatation. In their study, aortic diameter represented the "proximal aortic root" measured from 2D long-axis images. The average aortic root diameters reported in their Table 2 (3.13±0.28 cm in individuals with pulse pressure 
75 mm Hg and 2.94±0.36 cm in individuals with pulse pressure >75 mm Hg) are surprisingly small given an average age of >60 years for the entire population and average body mass indices in the high-overweight to obese range. This may reflect measurement of aortic diameters just distal to the anulus but not at the maximum diameter of the sinuses of Valsalva, as specified in standard nomograms widely used to identify normal aortic diameters in relation to body surface.2 Thus, the authors should more precisely describe the location of their measurements. Of even greater pathophysiologic importance, hypertension-associated increases in aortic diameters measured from 2D echocardiographic images occur at the level of the supra-aortic ridge and in the proximal ascending aorta.3 Because reported dimensions appear to have been measured in the portion of the aorta that does not dilate in response to hypertension, the study conclusions should perhaps be tempered by the understanding that measurement at a slightly higher level in the proximal aorta might have altered the study findings by identifying an area where volume capacitance was greater, not less, in patients with higher pulse pressures.
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Acknowledgments |
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Disclosures
None.
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References |
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 Top References |
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1. Mitchell GF, Conlin PR, Dunlap ME, Lacourcière, Arnold JMO, Ogilvie RI, Neutel J, Izzo JL, Pfeffer MA. Aortic diameter, wall stiffness, and wave reflection in systolic hypertension. Hypertension. 2008; 51: 105–111.
2. Lang RM, Bierig M, Devereux RB, Flachskampf FA, Foster E, Pellikka PA, Picard MH, Roman MJ, Seward J, Shanewise JS, Solomon SD, Spencer KT, St John Sutton M, Stewart WJ. Recommendations for chamber quantification: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography’s Guidelines and Standards Committee and the Chamber Qunatification Writing Group, developed in conjunction with the European Association of Echocardiography, a branch of the European Society of Cardiology. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2005; 18: 1440–1463.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
3. Kim M, Roman MJ, Cavallini MC, Schwartz JE, Pickering TG, Devereux RB. The impact of hypertension on aortic root size and prevalence of aortic regurgitation. Hypertension. 1996; 28: 47–52.
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  G. F. Mitchell, P. R. Conlin, M. E. Dunlap, Y. Lacourciere, J. M. O. Arnold, R. I. Ogilvie, J. Neutel, J. L. Izzo Jr, and M. A. Pfeffer Response to Wave Reflection in Systolic Hypertension: Smaller Stature, Shorter Aorta: Higher Pulse Pressure? and Questions Regarding the Aortic Measurements of Mitchell et al Hypertension, May 1, 2008; 51(5): e39 - e40. [Full Text] [PDF]
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