Correlation Between Increased Thoracic Aortic Intima-Media Thickness and Renal Doppler Parameters in Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Increased vascular intima-media thickness is an accepted marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and closely correlates with cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertension is a robust risk factor for increased thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (TA-IMT) and deteriorated renal Doppler measurements. Owing to the lack of information about the correlation between TA-IMT and renal Doppler parameters, this study aims to investigate the same in hypertensive patients. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 112 hypertensive patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for different diagnostic reasons. The patients were divided into group 1 (56 patients with increased TA-IMT) and group 2 (56 patients without increased TA-IMT). For all patients, transthoracic echocardiography, TEE, renal B-mode and Doppler ultrasound, and laboratory measurements were performed. Results: Compared with group 2, group 1 had markedly elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. In addition, renal resistive index (RRI), renal pulsatility index (RPI), the presence of RRI > 0.70, and cortical thickness were markedly higher in group 1 than that in group 2. Besides, renal acceleration time (AT) was considerably lower in group 1 patients. In group 1, we observed increased RRI (> 0.70) in 39 (70%) hypertensive patients. Furthermore, linear regression analyses revealed an independent correlation of SBP, BMI, LDL cholesterol, and renal AT with TA-IMT. Conclusion: This study establishes a correlation between increased TA-IMT values and deteriorated renal Doppler measurements in hypertensive patients. Perhaps, TA-IMT measurements could help to determine the end-stage organ damage in hypertensive patients who undergo TEE.