THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF ELASTIC ARTERIES IN EHLERS-DANLOS-SYNDROME

Objective: To study whether measurements of wall mechanics can be used its an indicator of disturbed vessel wall integrity and predictor of vessel fragility in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Methods: The wall me chanics of the abdominal aorta (AO) and common carotid artery (CCA) we re estimated from the indices E-p (pressure strain elastic modulus) fi nd stiffness (beta) in twelve individuals with EDS of different subtyp es and compared with the results of a healthy reference population. E- p and beta were calculated from diameter and pulsatile diameter change determined non-invasively with the aid of an ultrasonic echo-tracking system and blood pressure obtained by the auscultatory method. Result s: Compared with normal individuals and their confidence intervals, su bjects with EDS had unaltered diameter, E-p and beta in the AO, as wel l as in the CCA. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) also showed unaltered results. AO: diameter (males p = 0.66, females p = 0.27), E-p (males p = 0.81, females p = 0.27) and beta (males p = 0.95, females p = 0.12 ). CCA: diameter (males p = 0.36, females p = 0.46), E-p (males p = 0. 93, females p = 0.48) and beta (males p = 0.86, females p = 0.47). Con clusions: This investigation could not demonstrate any alteration in w all mechanics as a sign of disturbed vessel wall integrity of elastic arteries in EDS. This might indicate that the structural defect in the arterial wall collagen, and thus the tendency to vessel fragility, ca nnot be revealed under normal physilogical pressure conditions.