Abstract 14598: Relationship of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Profiles on Progression of Aortic Atheroma in Patients With Stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Aortic atherosclerotic burden is known to be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, longitudinal data and the risk factors about aortic plaque progression are limited. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that ambulatory blood pressure (BP) variables would play a role in progression of aortic atheroma over 2 years in patients with stroke Methods: 115 patients with who underwent serial transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) over 2 years were enrolled. Aortic atheroma was graded as mild (2-3mm), moderate (3-5 mm), severe (>5mm), or complex (ulceration and/or mobile component) using TEE. Progression of aortic atheroma was defined as an increase of maximal plaque thickness by ≥1 grade. Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed when BP was stabilized. The association between ABPM variables and aortic atheroma progression was assessed. Results: During the median follow-up of 25.0 months, 10 (8.7%) were regressed, 13 (11.3%) were progressed, and 92 (80.0%) remained unchanged. Female had more progression of aortic atheroma (p=0.007). However, baseline LDL cholesterol, change of LDL cholesterol, intensity of statin and baseline plaque thickness were not significantly associated with change of aortic plaque. Regarding ABPM variables, systolic ABPM variables including 24 hour, daytime and nighttime mean systolic BP were associated with progression of aortic atheroma, whereas diastolic BP variables were not associated with change of aortic atherosclerosis. 24 hour, daytime and nighttime mean systolic BP were significantly related to plaque progression even after adjusting for clinical parameters (p=0.007 for 24 hour and daytime SBP, p=0.003 for nighttime SBP). Conclusions: Systolic BP variables were associated with progression of aortic atheroma in patients with stroke, which suggests systolic BP control can be a key to suppress progression of aortic plaques.