Abstract: Objective To investigate the feasibility of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) in evaluating the aortic elasticity of the patients with essential hypertension(EH). Methods A total of 60 patients with EH were enrolled in EH group and 60 cases with normal blood pressure were selected as control group. According to the age, the two groups were divided into elderly subgroup(aged≥60 years old)and non-eldely subgroup (aged<60 years old) respectively. Echocardiography was performed in all cases and the corresponding speckle tracking images were acquired using 2D-STI. The changes of aortic strain rate was analyzed, and the arterial dilatation (AD) and arterial stiffness index (ASI) were calculated and compared. Results The value of AD was significantly lower and the value of ASI was significantly higher in EH group than that of control group(P<0.01).In the two groups, compared with non-elderly subgroup, the value of AD was lower and the value of ASI was higher in elderly subgroup(P<0.05); There were significant differences in the above indexes between the two subgroups in EH group and control group respectively(P<0.05). Conclusions Age and EH are important factors in the reduction of arterial elasticity. Simplified 2D-STI can evaluate the aortic elasticity and provide new ideas for clinical treatment of aortic diseases and has certain clinical value.

Key words: two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging, hypertension, aortic elasticity, arterial stiffness index