Events Calendar

AME Seminar

Speaker: Gary F. Mitchell, MD,

Talk Title: Aortic Stiffness, Pressure and Flow Pulsatility and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract: The aorta provides a critical buffer between the heart and peripheral organs. Juxtaposition of the highly compliant aorta with stiff conduit arteries creates impedance mismatch and local wave reflection that limits transmission of potentially harmful pulsatile energy into the fragile microcirculation. Aortic wall stiffness increases progressively throughout the human lifespan. However, from young adulthood through midlife, pressure pulsatility actually falls as a result of aortic remodeling to a larger lumen area, which reduces characteristic impedance of the aorta. From midlife onward, aortic wall stiffening accelerates and characteristic impedance and pressure pulsatility increase markedly and contribute to the epidemic of wide pulse pressure (isolated systolic) hypertension. After this midlife transition, stiffness of the aorta exceeds that of the muscular arteries, leading to impedance matching and diminished wave reflection, which increases transmission of excessive pressure and flow pulsatility into the microcirculation. Excessive pulsatility in the microcirculation, particularly in high flow organs such as the brain and kidneys, causes microvascular damage, remodeling and dysfunction, leading target organ damage. In addition, aortic stiffening adds to load on the heart and may interfere with diastolic function, adding to risk for heart failure in late life. Successful interruption of the unfavorable aortic stiffening cascade likely will require early intervention and lifelong prevention, although attempts to reverse the process have been inadequately examined at present.

Host: AME Department

More Info: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/

Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Tessa Yao

Event Link: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/