Aortic distensibility measured by pulse-wave velocity is not modified in patients with Chagas' disease

Humberto Villacorta, Luiz Aparecido Bortolotto, Edmundo Arteaga, Charles Mady, Humberto Villacorta, Luiz Aparecido Bortolotto, Edmundo Arteaga, Charles Mady

Abstract

Background: Experimental studies demonstrate that infection with trypanosoma cruzi causes vasculitis. The inflammatory lesion process could hypothetically lead to decreased distensibility of large and small arteries in advanced Chagas' disease. We tested this hypothesis.

Methods and results: We evaluated carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) in 53 Chagas' disease patients compared with 31 healthy volunteers (control group). The 53 patients were classified into 3 groups: 1) 16 with indeterminate form of Chagas' disease; 2) 18 with Chagas' disease, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and normal systolic function; 3) 19 with Chagas' disease, systolic dysfunction, and mild-to-moderate congestive heart failure. No difference was noted between the 4 groups regarding carotid-femoral PWV (8.4 +/- 1.1 vs 8.2 +/- 1.5 vs 8.2 +/- 1.4 vs 8.7 +/- 1.6 m/s, P = 0.6) or pulse pressure (39.5 +/- 7.6 vs 39.3 +/- 8.1 vs 39.5 +/- 7.4 vs 39.7 +/- 6.9 mm Hg, P = 0.9). A positive, significant, similar correlation occurred between PWV and age in patients with Chagas' disease (r = 0.42, P = 0.002), in controls (r = 0.48, P = 0.006), and also between PWV and systolic blood pressure in both groups (patients with Chagas' disease, r = 0.38, P = 0.005; healthy subjects, r = 0.36, P = 0.043).

Conclusion: Carotid femoral pulse-wave velocity is not modified in patients with Chagas' disease, suggesting that elastic properties of large arteries are not affected in this disorder.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pulse-wave velocity values in the 4 groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship between pulse-wave velocity and age in Chagas' disease groups as compared with that in the control group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between pulse-wave velocity and systolic blood pressure in Chagas' disease group as compared with that in the control group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relationship between pulse wave velocity and diastolic blood pressure in Chagas' disease group as compared with that in the control group.

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