Relationship Between Ambulatory Pulse Pressure And Atherosclerosis Of Carotid Artery In Elderly Patients With Essential Hypertension

Objective To investigate the relationship between ambulatory pulse pressure and carotid Arteries Atherosclerosis in elderly hypertensive patients. Methods Totally ninety-five elderly patients with essential hypertension, who were hospitalized in the first affiliated hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between Jan 2005 and Dec 2005,devided into two groups according to the levels of ambulatory pulse pressure; group A : 24h mean pulse pressure over 60mmHg. group B: 24h mean pulse pressure range from 40⁶0mmHg.the color Doppler ultrasound was used to perform the carotid artery ultrasonic examination to measure the intima-media thickness(IMT), lumen diameter and plaque of common carotid artery of the two sides. Maximal intima-media thickness(IMT_max) was used as the index of carotid atherosclerosis severity. Results All the ninety-five patients were involved in the analysis of results: the IMT_max and lumen diameter in the group A were obviously higher than those in the group B. the incidence rate of carotid artery plaque is higher in group A than that in the Group B. Conclusion The pulse pressure is related to carotid artery plaque and the carotid intima-media thickness. atherosclerosis is the cause of elevated pulse pressure, elevated pulse pressure may be involved in forming and developing of atherosclerosis.