Structural and Functional Changes of Femoral and Popliteal Arteries in Hypertension Patients Before and After Drug Therapy / 中国循环杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the structural and functional changes of femoral and popliteal arteries in hypertension patients before and after drug therapy. Methods: A total of 201 hypertension patients treated in our hospital from 2010-03 to 2016-01 were studied. Based on blood pressure levels, the patients were divided into 3 groups Grade-1 group,n=72, Grade-2 Group,n=68 and Grade-3 group,n=61. The patients were treated for 3 months and blood pressure was reduced below 140/90 mmHg. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of femoral and popliteal arteries was measured by two-dimensional ultrasound, blood vessel elasticity parameters of β, Ep, AC and PWV were determined by ET technology. The differences were compared between pre- and post-medication. Results: Compared with pre-medication, post-medication IMT in femoral artery was decreased in 3 groups, allP0.05; blood vessel elasticity parameters of β, Ep, PWV were decreased in 3 groups and AC was increased, allP<0.05. Conclusion: Drug therapy could effectively improve the elasticity of femoral and popliteal arteries in hypertension patients; two-dimensional ultrasound combining ET technology may dynamically monitor vascular elasticity of lower extremity which provides an objective basis for evaluating medication efifcacy in clinical practice.