Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Cardiol. Aug 26, 2012; 4(8): 256-259
Published online Aug 26, 2012. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v4.i8.256
Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on regional arterial stiffness: Assessment by tissue Doppler imaging
Mio Haiden, Yoko Miyasaka, Yutaka Kimura, Satoshi Tsujimoto, Hirofumi Maeba, Yoshinobu Suwa, Toshiji Iwasaka, Ichiro Shiojima
Mio Haiden, Yoko Miyasaka, Yutaka Kimura, Satoshi Tsujimoto, Hirofumi Maeba, Yoshinobu Suwa, Toshiji Iwasaka, Ichiro Shiojima, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine II, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1191, Japan
Author contributions: Haiden M, Miyasaka Y, Kimura Y, and Iwasaka T designed the study concept; Haiden M, Miyasaka Y, Tsujimoto S, Maeba H, and Suwa Y collected the data; Haiden M, Miyasaka Y, and Shiojima I wrote the manuscript; Haiden M, Miyasaka Y, Kimura Y, Tsujimoto S, Maeba H, Suwa Y, Iwasaka T, and Shiojima I analyzed and interpreted the data, and gave the final approval for the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Yoko Miyasaka, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine II, Kansai Medical University, 2-3-1, Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1191, Japan. miyasaka@hirakata.kmu.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-72-8040101 Fax: +81-72-8042865
Received: June 21, 2012
Revised: August 10, 2012
Accepted: August 17, 2012
Published online: August 26, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on regional arterial stiffness assessed by strain rate using tissue Doppler imaging.

METHODS: Nineteen eligible patients were prospectively studied (mean age 62 ± 8 years, 68% men). Subjects with large vessel complications and/or diabetes mellitus were excluded. The strain rate of the ascending aorta was measured by tissue Doppler imaging as an index of regional arterial stiffness, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured as an index of degree of systemic arteriosclerosis. These indices were compared before and after administration of EPA at 1800 mg/d for one year.

RESULTS: The plasma concentration of EPA increased significantly after EPA administration (3.0% ± 1.1% to 8.5% ± 2.9%, P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in baPWV (1765 ± 335 cm/s to 1745 ± 374 cm/s), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (114 ± 29 mg/dL to 108 ± 28 mg/dL), or systolic blood pressure (131 ± 16 mmHg to 130 ± 13 mmHg) before and after EPA administration. In contrast, the strain rate was significantly increased by administration of EPA (19.2 ± 5.6 s-1, 23.0 ± 6.6 s-1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: One year of administration of EPA resulted in an improvement in regional arterial stiffness which was independent of blood pressure or serum cholesterol levels.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Tissue Doppler imaging; Strain rate; Arterial stiffness; Eicosapentaenoic acid