Arterial Compliance and Distensibility: A Comparison of Three Measurement Sites

Abstract

Objective: Prior research has shown that measures of arterial wall thickness and arterial elasticity have predictive and prognostic value in the formation of atherosclerosis. We sought to determine if these measures were consistent in various vascular beds throughout the arterial system. Methods: We examined intima-media thickness (IMT), wall cross-sectional area (WCSA), lumen diameter (LD), cross-sectional (CSC1, CSC2) and diameter compliance (DC), cross-sectional (CSD) and diameter distensibility (DD), and incremental elastic modulus (IEM) in the common carotid artery, the brachial artery, and the abdominal aorta in children and adolescents ages 8.1 - 21.3 years old (n = 93 subjects; 45 males, 48 females). Spearman's correlation analysis was used to determine relationships between measurements from different arteries. Results: LD was found to be associated (ρ = 0.282, P = 0.009) between the brachial and carotid arteries. Between the brachial artery and abdominal aorta, LD (ρ = 0.456, P < 0.001), CSD% (ρ = 0.230, P = 0.027), and IEM (ρ = 0.221, P = 0.037) showed a significant association. Between the carotid artery and abdominal aorta, LD (ρ = 0.334, P = 0.002), DD% (ρ = 0.317; P = 0.001), CSD% (ρ = 0.317, P = 0.002), CSC2 (ρ = 0.283, P = 0.006), and IEM (ρ = 0.312, P = 0.002) were found to be associated. IMT was not found to be associated between any measurement sites. Conclusion: The carotid artery and abdominal aorta showed moderate correlation on most arterial elasticity measures. However, only a few brachial arterial elasticity measures showed a significant correlation with those in the carotid or abdominal arteries. Finally, there was no correlation between IMT at the three different sites. It is possible that these findings are a result of the varying amounts of muscular versus elastic content of these three arteries. Future research should examine the relative prognostic value of each measurement site in predicting atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease risk.