Age dependent vascular remodeling in elderly patients with arterial hypertension

Abstract

Purpose: to estimate morphological markers of vascular remodeling in elderly patients with arterial hypertension. Material: 179 elderly patients with arterial hypertension were involved in the study. Mean intima media thickness (IMT) of common carotid arteries at plaque-free sites and prevalence of plaques were evaluated by B-mode ultrasound (Philips Envisor HD, USA). Results: IMT changing was of nonlinear character. IMT remained stable up to 74 years. Mean rate of the subsequent IMT augmentation was 0.157 mm per year. Frequency of atherosclerotic plaque revealing was significantly increased since 7th decade. No significant correlation between IMT and systolic, diastolic, mean blood pressure levels, or medication spectra was revealed. Conclusion: Received data can be considered as the evidence of significant ageing influence upon IMT enlargement.

Keywords

• arterial hypertension
• aging
• intima media thickness
• vascular remodeling