Usefulness of aortic knob width on chest radiography to predict central hemodynamics in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Aortic knob width on chest radiography is independently related to cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the correlation between aortic knob width and central hemodynamics.

METHODS: Central blood pressure was measured invasively with diagnostic catheter in 92 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

RESULTS: Aortic knob width was positively associated with age (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), central systolic blood pressure (r = 0.35; p < 0.001) and central pulse pressure (r = 0.34; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that larger aortic knob width was independently related to the higher central systolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS: Lager aortic knob width on chest radiography is an independent predictor of increase of central systolic blood pressure.