LAUSR

Objective: to evaluate the correlation between local arterial stiffness parameters and echocardiography in patients STEMI younger than 55 years old. Design and method: the study included 69 STEMI patients aged 35 to 55 years, mean age 47,4 ± 7,1 years, body mass index (BMI) 26,9 ± 3,7 kg/m2, office SBP - 120 (110; 130) mmHg, DBP - 80 (70; 80) mmHg. Inclusion criteria: STEMI confirmed by ECG data, troponin I level, CK-MB, hemodynamically significant stenosis of only one coronary artery (infarct-related) according to coronary angiography, and the absence of previous angina. Ultrasound of the common carotid arteries (CCA) was carried out using RF high-frequency signal technology on the MyLab scanner (Esaote, Italy) at 7–9th day from the disease onset. The following parameters were recorded: intima-media thickness (IMT), local pulse wave velocity (PWV), stiffness indices &agr; and &bgr;, coefficient of transverse compliance (CC) and distensibility (DC), augmentation index (Aix). Echocardiography was performed on the MyLab scanner (Esaote, Italy). End-diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic size (EDS), end-systolic size (ESS), and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) were analyzed. Patients were received pharmacotherapy for STEMI during the study according to the ESC guidelines. Results: A statistically significant positive correlation between age and CCA ultrasound parameters was revealed: IMT (r = 0.25, p < 0.05), PWV (r = 0.25, p < 0.05), Aix (r = 0,43, p < 0.01), indices &agr; and &bgr; (r = 0.30, p < 0.01 and r = 0.29, p < 0.01, respectively), as well as a negative relationship with the coefficients CC and DC (r = −0.25, p < 0.05 and r = −0.26, p < 0.05, respectively). An increase of IMT correlated with increase of EDV (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), ESV (r = 0.25, p < 0.05) and EDS (r = 0.28, p < 0.05). The EF was positively related to the coefficients CC and DC (r = 0.33, p < 0.01 and r = 0.32, p < 0.01, respectively); negatively with PWV (r = −0.36, p < 0.01), stiffness indices &agr; and &bgr; (r = −0.37, p < 0.01 and r = −0.36, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: An increase of stiffness and loss of elasticity of the CCA, a thickening of intima-media was associated with a deterioration of the structural parameters and left ventricle contractile function in STEMI patients of young and middle age.