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  • Title: [Blood pressure difference between upper arm and thigh, and aortic stiffness in healthy subjects and in patients after coarcectomy].
    Author: Motz R, Waltner-Romen M, Geiger R, Wessel A.
    Journal: Klin Padiatr; 2001; 213(5):290-4. PubMed ID: 11582529.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The blood pressure difference between the right arm and the legs is often used as an estimate of a possible gradient across a coarctation or recoarctation aortae. We wanted to test the reliability of this hypotheses while estimating the local stiffness of the aortae ascendens and abdominalis. PATIENTS: We examined 50 healthy children and adolescents as well as 50 patients of a similar age after repair of an coarctation aortae. There was no relevant recoarctation on echocardiography or magnet resonance tomography. METHODS: We measured in all patients the blood pressure by oscillometry three times on the right upper arm and thigh. At the same time we measured the systolic and diastolic diameter of the aorta before the branching of the truncus brachiocephalicus and the branching of the truncus coeliacus. The local stiffness was calculated, using the stiffness index b, from the aortic diameter and the corresponding blood pressure. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure difference showed in healthy subjects and patients after coarctation a wide range (about 60 mm Hg). The diastolic and mean blood pressure showed a slightly smaller range. There was no significant difference in this respect between the two groups. The stiffness index beta was elevated after coarcectomy in the aorta ascendens compared to healthy subjects. The local stiffness of the abdominal aortae were similar in both groups and showed a similar increase with advancing age. DISCUSSION: The blood pressure difference between the upper arm and thigh showed a wide range. Therefore is the blood pressure difference an unreliable tool to estimate the severity of a re-coarctation. The local stiffness of the aorta ascendens was elevated after coarctation and implied at least a partial loss of the Windkessel. The local stiffness in the aorta abdominalis was normal after coarctation repair.
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