Van Merode T, Hick P J, Hoeks A P, Smeets F A, Reneman R S
Department of Physiology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Ultrasound Med Biol. 1988;14(7):571-4. doi: 10.1016/0301-5629(88)90123-8.
The vessel wall properties of the common carotid artery were noninvasively studied in 109 normotensive, presumed normal male and female volunteers of various ages (20-69 y) with the use of a multi-gate pulsed Doppler system. This system allows the on-line recording of velocity profiles and the relative changes in carotid artery diameter during the cardiac cycle (delta d/d). From the width of these profiles the systolic internal diameter (d) of the carotid artery can be determined. With the use of d, the maximal increase in delta d/d during systole and the pulse pressure, as measured in the brachial artery (delta p), the distensibility coefficient and the cross-sectional compliance were calculated. Both distensibility and cross-sectional compliance were significantly lower in females than in males, irrespective of age. This likely results from a stiffer arterial wall behavior in females, because the relative increase in vessel diameter during the cardiac cycle is lower in females than in males, despite the fact that their pulse pressure values are not significantly different. The carotid artery diameters were similar in men and women. The findings in the present study indicate that the common carotid artery is stiffer in females than in males of comparable age. Therefore, sex-dependent differences have to be considered in the interpretation of arterial distensibility and cross-sectional compliance.
利用多门控脉冲多普勒系统，对109名年龄各异（20 - 69岁）、血压正常且假定健康的男性和女性志愿者的颈总动脉血管壁特性进行了无创研究。该系统能够在线记录速度剖面以及心动周期中颈动脉直径的相对变化（Δd/d）。根据这些剖面的宽度，可以确定颈动脉的收缩期内径（d）。利用d、收缩期Δd/d的最大增加值以及肱动脉测量的脉压（Δp），计算了扩张系数和横截面积顺应性。无论年龄大小，女性的扩张性和横截面积顺应性均显著低于男性。这可能是由于女性动脉壁行为更僵硬，因为尽管女性的脉压值无显著差异，但心动周期中血管直径的相对增加幅度低于男性。男性和女性的颈动脉直径相似。本研究结果表明，在可比年龄的人群中，女性的颈总动脉比男性更僵硬。因此，在解释动脉扩张性和横截面积顺应性时，必须考虑性别差异。
