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(Hypertension. 1998;31:534.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Carotid Wall Viscosity Increase Is Related to Intima-Media Thickening in Hypertensive Patients

Ricardo L. Armentano; Sebastián Graf; Juan G. Barra; Gerardo Velikovsky; Hugo Baglivo; Ramiro Sánchez; Alain Simon; Ricardo H. Pichel; Jaime Levenson

From the Basic Sciences Research Institute (R.L.A., S.G., J.G.B., G.V., R.H.P.) and Hypertension Section (ICYCC) (H.B., R.S.), The Dr. René G. Favaloro University Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina; and CMPCV Hòpital Broussais (A.S., J.L.), Paris, France.

Reprint requests to Ricardo Luis Armentano, PhD. Solís 453 (1078), Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail armen{at}icycc-3.satlink.net

Increases in arterial wall viscosity and intima-media thickness (IMT) were found in hypertensive patients. Because smooth muscle cells are responsible for the viscous behavior of the arterial wall and they are involved in the process of thickening of the intima-media complex, this study evaluates the relationship between carotid thickness and wall viscosity. The simultaneous and noninvasive assessment of the intima-media complex and arterial diameter waveform was performed using high-resolution ultrasonography. This technique was contrasted against sonomicrometry in sheep, showing that the waveforms obtained by both methods were similar. The common carotid arteries of 11 normotensive subjects (NTA) and 11 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (HTA) were measured noninvasively by using tonometry and an automatic densitometric analysis of B-mode images to obtain IMT and instantaneous pressure and diameter loops. A viscoelastic model was used to derive the wall viscosity index () using the hysteresis loop elimination criteria. In NTA, was 2.73±1.66 (mm Hg · s/mm) and IMT was 0.58±0.08 (mm), whereas in HTA, was 5.91±2.34 (P<.025) and IMT was 0.70±0.12 (P<.025), respectively. When all data of versus IMT of NTA and HTA were pooled in a linear regression analysis, a correlation coefficient of r=.71 (P<.05) was obtained. Partial correlation between and IMT holding constant pressure was r=.59 (P<.05). In conclusion, wall viscosity increase was associated with a higher IMT even maintaining blood pressure fixed, suggesting that the intima-media thickening might be related to smooth muscle alterations manifested as an increase in viscous behavior.

Key Words: wall thickness • arterial wall viscosity • hypertension • tonometry

Abbreviations: IMT = intima-media thickness • NTA = normotensive patients • HTA = patients with mild to moderate hypertension

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