Arterial stiffness determined according to the cardio-ankle vascular index is associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that atrial fibrillation (AF) may be a consequence of vascular disease. We investigated the relationship between cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a new index of arterial stiffness, and the presence of paroxysmal AF (PAF).

Methods And Results: 181 outpatients (91 patients with PAF and 90 age- and gender-matched subjects without PAF) were analysed for their sinus rhythm.

Elevated serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein concentrations are independently associated with renal dysfunction in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cardiovascular events. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. We investigated whether plasma A-FABP is involved in renal function in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Olmesartan reduces arterial stiffness and serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein in hypertensive patients.

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) has been reported to be involved in insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis; however, little is known about the effect of medication on the change in circulating A-FABP in human subjects. We evaluated the effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) on arterial stiffness and its association with serum A-FABP in patients with hypertension. Thirty patients newly diagnosed with essential hypertension were treated with olmesartan (20 mg/day), an ARB, for 6 months.

Combination therapy of calcium channel blocker and angiotensin II receptor blocker reduces augmentation index in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: The optimal combination treatment for hypertension has not been established. We investigated the effect of a calcium channel blocker or a diuretic added to angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on the augmentation index (AI), as a marker of arterial stiffness and wave reflection, in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients treated with ARBs were randomly allocated to either of the 2 groups receiving an ARB plus azelnidipine (AZ group) or trichlormethiazide (TCM group).

Cardio-ankle vascular index is independently associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and left ventricular function in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Aim: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been proposed as a new noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness independent of blood pressure. We investigated the association of the CAVI with coronary atherosclerosis and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods: A total of 206 consecutive subjects undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled.

Augmentation index is associated with B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been shown to be elevated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF); however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Earlier, we reported that an increase in the augmentation index (AI), which is an index of wave reflection and arterial stiffness, is associated with PAF. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the BNP level and AI in patients with PAF.

Increased augmentation index of the radial pressure waveform in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The augmentation index, a marker of wave reflection, has been reported to reflect vascular properties and to determine left ventricular (LV) characteristics. We investigated the relationship between the augmentation index and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: A total of 244 outpatients (122 patients with paroxysmal AF and 122 age-, and gender-matched controls without paroxysmal AF) were examined during sinus rhythm.

Association of new arterial stiffness parameter, the cardio-ankle vascular index, with left ventricular diastolic function.

Aim: Pulse wave velocity has been used as an index of aortic stiffness. Recently, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), which reflects the stiffness of the aorta independently of blood pressure, has been developed. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between CAVI and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction.