Volume of carotid bodies and cardiac autonomic function in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract Purpose Determination of the relationship between the estimated total volume of the carotid bodies (V rCB + lCB ), assessed by computed tomography angiography (CTA), and the autonomic cardiac function in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Materials and methods The study included 69 patients with diagnosed and pharmacologically treated EH. The estimated volume of each carotid body (CB) was evaluated on the basis of scans obtained in the CTA of carotid arteries, using the following formula: 4/3 × π × half of transverse dimension of CB in axial projection × half of longitudinal dimension of CB in the axial projection × half of craniocaudal dimension of CB in the sagittal/coronal projection. Cardiac autonomic function was assessed using time domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Results The mean values of SDNNi, rMSSD and pNN50 at 24-h monitoring, during daily activity and during night rest, were significantly lower in patients with hypertension with the values of V rCB + lCB ≥ median compared to the group of hypertensive patients with the values of V rCB + lCB < median. Moreover, in patients with EH with the values of V rCB + lCB ≥ median, the mean values of SDNN were lower during daily activity. Based on the regression analysis, it was found out that the higher values of V rCB + lCB are an independent risk factor in HRV reduction (expressed as a reduction in the rMSSD). Conclusion In patients with EH, a relationship between the volume of CB, assessed by CTA of carotid arteries, and autonomic cardiac function seems to be probable.