Association Between Local Ascending Aortic Elastic Properties and Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Case–Control Echocardiographic Study

Background/Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with subclinical cardiovascular involvement, including impaired myocardial deformation and increased arterial stiffness. However, the local elastic properties of the ascending aorta and their relationship with subclinical left ventricular (LV) longitudinal dysfunction remain insufficiently characterized in MS.

Methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, 67 adults with MS and 67 age-matched controls without cardiovascular disease underwent standardized transthoracic echocardiography. Aortic strain, distensibility and stiffness index (β) were derived from M-mode ascending aortic diameters and simultaneous brachial blood pressure, and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. Multivariable linear regression was utilized to assess associations.