open access

Vol 25, No 4 (2021)
Original paper
Published online: 2021-08-19
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Aortic knob width is associated with non-dipping blood pressure pattern

Fuldem Mutlu1, Suleyman Cagan Efe2, Ibrahim Kocayigit3, Ahmet Oz2, Turgut Karabag2
·
Arterial Hypertension 2021;25(4):145-151.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Türkiye
  2. Department of Cardiology, Istanbul Education and Research Hospital, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi, Istanbul, Türkiye
  3. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Türkiye

open access

Vol 25, No 4 (2021)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Published online: 2021-08-19

Abstract

Background: Aortic knob width (AKW) is the measurement of the radiographic configuration composed of the foreshortened aortic arch and a part of the descending aorta. We investigated the relationship between the nondipper pattern and AKW.

Material and methods: All patients’ office blood pressure measurements and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure readings were recorded. A blood pressure drop of less than 10% was defined as non-dipping. The patients were grouped into Group 1; dipper pattern (37 patients; 22F, and mean age 49.2 ± 11.7 yrs) and Group 2; non-dipper pattern (64 patients; 37F, and mean age 53.7 ± 13.1 yrs). On posteroanterior chest radiography, the widest point of the aortic knob was measured along the straight imaginary line from the lateral edge of the trachea to the left lateral wall of the aortic arch.

Results: AKW was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to group 1 (36.7 ± 5.7 vs. 30.7 ± 4.5 mm, p < 0.001). The mean daytime and night-time systolic blood pressures, the mean night-time diastolic blood pressure levels, 24-hour mean blood pressure and mean pulse pressures were higher; percentage of nocturnal drops was significantly lower in Group 2 compared to Group 1. AKW was determined to be the parameter that was mostly related to the non-dipper pattern. A ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve values for AKW values of non-dippers were 0.796 (95% CI: 0.707–0.884, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: AKW is significantly higher in non-dipper individuals compared to dippers. AKW values above
32.6 mm on the chest radiograph may be associated with non-dipper pattern especially in hypertensive individuals.

Abstract

Background: Aortic knob width (AKW) is the measurement of the radiographic configuration composed of the foreshortened aortic arch and a part of the descending aorta. We investigated the relationship between the nondipper pattern and AKW.

Material and methods: All patients’ office blood pressure measurements and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure readings were recorded. A blood pressure drop of less than 10% was defined as non-dipping. The patients were grouped into Group 1; dipper pattern (37 patients; 22F, and mean age 49.2 ± 11.7 yrs) and Group 2; non-dipper pattern (64 patients; 37F, and mean age 53.7 ± 13.1 yrs). On posteroanterior chest radiography, the widest point of the aortic knob was measured along the straight imaginary line from the lateral edge of the trachea to the left lateral wall of the aortic arch.

Results: AKW was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to group 1 (36.7 ± 5.7 vs. 30.7 ± 4.5 mm, p < 0.001). The mean daytime and night-time systolic blood pressures, the mean night-time diastolic blood pressure levels, 24-hour mean blood pressure and mean pulse pressures were higher; percentage of nocturnal drops was significantly lower in Group 2 compared to Group 1. AKW was determined to be the parameter that was mostly related to the non-dipper pattern. A ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve values for AKW values of non-dippers were 0.796 (95% CI: 0.707–0.884, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: AKW is significantly higher in non-dipper individuals compared to dippers. AKW values above
32.6 mm on the chest radiograph may be associated with non-dipper pattern especially in hypertensive individuals.

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Keywords

aortic knob width; non-dipper pattern; hypertension; chest radiography

About this article
Title

Aortic knob width is associated with non-dipping blood pressure pattern

Journal

Arterial Hypertension

Issue

Vol 25, No 4 (2021)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

145-151

Published online

2021-08-19

Page views

5322

Article views/downloads

271

DOI

10.5603/AH.a2021.0023

Bibliographic record

Arterial Hypertension 2021;25(4):145-151.

Keywords

aortic knob width
non-dipper pattern
hypertension
chest radiography

Authors

Fuldem Mutlu
Suleyman Cagan Efe
Ibrahim Kocayigit
Ahmet Oz
Turgut Karabag

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