Usefulness of Aortic Strain Analysis by Velocity Vector Imaging as a New Echocardiographic Measure of Arterial Stiffness

Background: The role of velocity vector imaging (VVI) in evaluating arterial stiffness is not well known. We investigated the usefulness of vascular strain analysis by VVI in evaluating arterial stiffness. Methods: Heart-femoral and brachial- ankle pulse wave velocities (PWVs) were measured as standard parameters of arterial stiffness. Intima-media thickness (IMT), fractional shortening (FS), fractional area change (FAC) by two-dimensional (2D) and VVI methods, and peak circumferential strain (PS) of the descending thoracic aorta were measured as echocardiographic parameters of arterial stiffness and compared with PWV in 137 patients (53.8 +/- 13.4 years, 71 male). Results: Heart-femoral PWV was 9.0 +/- 2.4 m/s, and brachial-ankle PWV was 14.1 +/- 3.0 m/s. Aortic IMT was 0.97 +/- 0.23 mm, and FS was 10.0% +/- 4.0%. FAC was 10.9% +/- 5.2% by 2D tracing and 10.3% +/- 5.1% by the VVI method. PS was 5.4% +/- 3.0%. PS showed significant negative correlation with aortic IMT (r = -0.49, P < .01) and PWV (heart-femoral: r = -0.67, brachial-ankle: r = -0.75, P < .01). PS showed significant positive correlation with FS (r = 0.80, P < .01) and FAC (2D tracing: r = 0.86, VVI: r = 0.88, P < .01). Aortic IMT showed significant positive correlation with PWV (heart-femoral: r = 0.44, brachial-ankle: r = 0.60, P < .01) and negative correlation with FS (r = -0.61, P < .01) and FAC (2D tracing: r = -0.51, VVI: r = -0.51, P < .01). FS showed significant negative correlation with PWV (heart-femoral: r = -0.54, brachial-ankle: r = -0.72, P < .01). FAC showed significant negative correlation with heart-femoral (2D method: r = -0.61, VVI: r = -0.62, P < .01) and brachial-ankle (2D tracing: r = -0.71, VVI: r = -0.73, P < .01) PWV. Conclusion: PS and FAC measured by VVI were significantly associated with parameters of arterial stiffness and thus can be used as new echocardiographic parameters of arterial stiffness. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2009;22:1382-8.)