Carotid wall inertial index increase is related to intima-media thickeningin hypertensive patients

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between car otid intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial wall inertial behaviour. Methods The simultaneous and noninvasive assessment of the intima-media com plex and arterial diameter waveform was performed using high-resolution ult rasonography. The common carotid artery of eleven normotensive subjects (NT A) and eleven mild-to-moderate essential hypertensive patients (HTA) were m easured noninvasively using tonometry and an automatic densitometric analys is of B-mode images to obtain IMT and instantaneous pressure (P) and diamet er (D) loops. A linear discrete time model was used to estimate the inertia l index (K-M) using a system modelling-identification approach. Results In NTA K-M was 0.333 +/- 0.256 (mmHg . s(2)/mm) and IMT 0.643 +/- 0 .061 (mm), whereas in HTA K-M was 0.798 +/- 0.590 (P < 0.05) and IMT 0.760 +/- 0.034 (P < 0.025). When all data of K-M versus IMT of NTA and HTA were pooled in a linear regression analysis, a correlation coefficient of r = 0. 61 (P < 0.05) was obtained. Conclusion Wall inertia increase was associated with a higher IMT, suggesti ng that the intima-media thickening might be partially related to vascular hypertrophy manifested as increase of inertial behaviour. J Hypertens 1999, 17:1825-1829 (C) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.