Carotid resistive index in treated hypertensive patients: relationship with target organ damage

AbstractAim. The resistive index (RI) is a hemodynamic parameter that reflects local wall extensibility and related vascular resistance. We analyze the relationship between common carotid RI and target organ damage in treated hypertensive patients. Methods. We analyzed 265 consecutive hypertensive patients. Risk factors, cardiovascular history and treatments were collected; blood test, urinary albumin excretion (UAE), echocardiography to determine left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ankle–brachial index (ABI) and carotid echo-Doppler ultrasound to calculate the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and RI of both common carotids arteries were performed. Results. A positive correlation was found between carotid RI and age, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, carotid IMT, LVMI, UAE and a negative correlation was found with diastolic blood pressure and ABI. Subjects at the top quartile of carotid RI showed a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and peripheral artery disease (increased IMT, carot...