Relation Between LV Diastolic Function and Aortic Compliance as Assessed by Transthoracic Echo

Arterial compliance and stiffness of the ascending aorta are important components of the elastic nature of the arterial system. Several pathological conditions are known to potentially affect arterial compliance properties as occurs with the arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Factors known to affect LV elasticity are similar to those affecting aortic elasticity. Our aim in that study is to study correlation of aortic stiffness and LV diastolic function and the factors that affect each. We scanned 254 patients presenting for routine echocardiography to Ain Shams University Hospitals Echocardiography unit; where clinical history was taken, examination and 2D echocardiography done where we indexed the elastic properties of the aorta by calculating of aortic distensibility (AD), aortic stiffness index (ASI), and pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), and LV diastolic function was evaluated as well. Both presence and grade of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were significantly correlated with each of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus separately and presence of both hypertension and diabetes mellitus was correlated with LVDD. Aortic compliance-with its three studied elements; AS%, AD and ASI-was significantly correlated with grade of LVDD yet only elastic modulus was independently correlated with diastolic dysfunction.