Arterial stiffness and coronary artery disease

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Arterial stiffness is a well-validated marker of cardiovascular risk. However, the association between arterial stiffness and the spread of coronary heart disease remains controversial. Using a SphygmoCor®XCEL device, we measured arterial stiffness in 275 patients with de novo ACS directly by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cPWV) and indirectly by central pulse pressure (cPP) and augmentation index (Aix). This study showed a positive correlation between the number of coronary trunks affected and cPVcf (B=0.081; 95% CI [0.019; 0.142]; p=0.010), whereas this association was not found with PPc and Aix. We also found that VOPcf (OR=1.272; 95% CI [1.090; 1.483]; p=0.002) and PPc (OR=1.071; 95% CI [1.024; 1.121]; p=0.003) were the two independent predictors of multitruncular damage. In contrast, no arterial stiffness parameter was correlated with the Gensini score. Arterial stiffness can be considered a marker of coronary artery disease diffusion.

Autorentext

Habib Benahmed, Profesor Asociado de Cardiología en la Facultad de Medicina de Túnez, Departamento de Cardiología del Hospital Charles Nicolle, estudia en cardiología intervencionista y enfermedades cardiovasculares.