Assessment of the Influences of agind and hypertension on aortic wall distensibikity bu rtransesophageal ecocardiography

To evaluate the influences of aging and hypertension on thoracic aortic wall distensibility, we obtained instantaneous dimensional change of the thoracic descending aorta (TDA) with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), simuktaneously with systemic oressure of the brachial artery (Cuff method) in 31 normotension subject (N) and 19 hypertension patients (HT). We measured minimum dimension (Do,mm) and maximum demension in the ejection phase (Dmax,mm) of the TDA, and calculated the systolic dimensional change (△D＝Dmax－Do,mm), the percent dimensional change (%△D＝(△D/Do)×100,%), and wall compliance(△D/△P, mm/mmHg, △P : pulse oressure of the brachial artery) of the TDA. In N between 5th, 6th and 7th decades, with getting older, both %△D and △D/△P were significantly decreased without dignificant change in Do, but not diggerent vbetween 7th decade and 8th decade (%△D : 5th decade 9.5±2.0%, 6th decade 8.2±0.6%, 7th decade5.7±1.6%, and 8th decase 4.0±0.7%, M±SD