[Cardiovascular radiography, changes in the thoracic aorta, ECG and clinical parameters in hypertension. 2. Changes in the thoracic aorta in hypertension].

In 142 hypertensives and a control group of 230 normotensives the measure of the aorta after Kreuzfuchs was estimated. In the two groups a significant increase of the width of the aorta was found with growing age. Whilst the width of the aorta concerning the degree of severity I of hypertension on an average were slightly below those of normotensives, they were increased in the degrees of severity II and III, but a further increase could not be ascertained at the transition from degree of severity II to III. On the other hand, the duration of hypertension is of particular importance when a dilation of the aorta is present. Also between deformation of the heart and measure of the aorta close relations which may conclude to a homogenous development are to be seen particularly in the younger patients. The influence of the sclerosis of the aorta in the sense of an additional dilation of the aorta could not be clearly confirmed on the basis of our material. On the other hand, the frequency of calcium depositions significantly increased with growing age in the region of the aortic arce and in the group of younger patients with the duration of hypertension, whereas the different degrees of severity II and III had a smaller influence. It is interesting that several patients showed normal widths of the aorta despite a duration of the hypertension of more than 5 years and a degree of severity III.