The association of ambulatory pulse pressure with carotid artery atherosclerosis in the eldly with hypertension

Objective: To investigate the relationship between ambulatory pulse pressure(PP) and carotid artery atherosclerosis in elderly hypertensive patients.Methods: Totally ninety-five elderly patients with essential hypertension,were tested with the color Doppler ultrasounography 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 IMTmax and lumen diameter in the group A(PP60 mmHg) were obviously higher than those in the group B(PP60 mmHg).the incidence rate of carotid artery plaque was higher in group A than that in 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.