<p>Postmenopausal estrogen therapy, initiated early in the menopause, seems to protect against development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This thesis concerns studies of artery wall thickness and arterial stiffness estimated by noninvasive ultrasound techniques in long-term estrogen treated postmenopausal women who initiated therapy at the time of the menopause.</p><p>A noninvasive 25 MHz high-frequency ultrasound technique was validated in the imaging of superficial arteries by using an animal model. Ultrasound estimates of the artery wall layers obtained <i>in vivo</i> in the pig were compared to <i>ex-vivo</i> histomorphometry. Valid estimates of total artery wall and media thickness were found for the most superficial arteries. Adventitia thickness was underestimated and intima thickness overestimated in this animal model when non-atherosclerotic vessels were imaged.</p><p>To validate the clinical usefulness of separately estimating the artery wall layers in the human, the carotid artery wall was imaged in elderly subjects. Separate estimates of intima thickness, media thickness and intima/media ratio differed significantly between subjects with and without atherosclerosis and CVD, indicating that this noninvasive high-frequency ultrasound method might be a strong tool in monitoring changes in artery wall morphology associated with aging and development of atherosclerosis.</p><p>The investigation of intima thickness, media thickness and intima/media ratio of the carotid and femoral arteries in long-term estrogen treated postmenopausal women showed a maintenance of a thin intima and a preservation of media thickness and intima/media ratio at values similar to those obtained in women of fertile age. By comparing estrogen-users with age-matched postmenopausal nonusers, long-term estrogen therapy initiated at the time of the menopause seemed to counteract the increase in intima and decrease in media thickness associated with aging and development of atherosclerosis. The preservation of the artery wall morphology into older age might be a mechanism for the well-documented cardioprotective effects of estrogen when therapy is initiated early after menopause. However, long-term estrogen therapy showed no substantial effects on the age-related changes in arterial stiffness estimated at the aorta, carotid and femoral arteries, suggesting that any long-term cardioprotective effect that estrogen therapy may have is unlikely to be mediated by an impact on arterial stiffness. </p>

Postmenopausal estrogen therapy, initiated early in the menopause, seems to protect against development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This thesis concerns studies of artery wall thickness and arterial stiffness estimated by noninvasive ultrasound techniques in long-term estrogen treated postmenopausal women who initiated therapy at the time of the menopause. A noninvasive 25 MHz high-frequency ultrasound technique was validated in the imaging of superficial arteries by using an animal model. Ultrasound estimates of the artery wall layers obtained in vivo in the pig were compared to ex-vivo histomorphometry. Valid estimates of total artery wall and media thickness were found for the most superficial arteries. Adventitia thickness was underestimated and intima thickness overestimated in this animal model when non-atherosclerotic vessels were imaged. To validate the clinical usefulness of separately estimating the artery wall layers in the human, the carotid artery wall was imaged in elderly subjects. Separate estimates of intima thickness, media thickness and intima/media ratio differed significantly between subjects with and without atherosclerosis and CVD, indicating that this noninvasive high-frequency ultrasound method might be a strong tool in monitoring changes in artery wall morphology associated with aging and development of atherosclerosis. The investigation of intima thickness, media thickness and intima/media ratio of the carotid and femoral arteries in long-term estrogen treated postmenopausal women showed a maintenance of a thin intima and a preservation of media thickness and intima/media ratio at values similar to those obtained in women of fertile age. By comparing estrogen-users with age-matched postmenopausal nonusers, long-term estrogen therapy initiated at the time of the menopause seemed to counteract the increase in intima and decrease in media thickness associated with aging and development of atherosclerosis. The preservation of the artery wall morphology into older age might be a mechanism for the well-documented cardioprotective effects of estrogen when therapy is initiated early after menopause. However, long-term estrogen therapy showed no substantial effects on the age-related changes in arterial stiffness estimated at the aorta, carotid and femoral arteries, suggesting that any long-term cardioprotective effect that estrogen therapy may have is unlikely to be mediated by an impact on arterial stiffness.

No description available.

La paroi vasculaire est composée de cellules endothéliales, de cellules musculaires lisses vasculaires et de fibroblastes qui sont entourés d’un réseau structuré et complexe de protéines, la matrice extracellulaire. Les interactions réciproques entre la matrice et les cellules sont nécessaires à la croissance, au développement et au remodelage. Or, différents contextes pathologiques entraînent la perturbation de ces interactions et sont la cause de différentes maladies. Au cours du vieillissement, la matrice extracellulaire des grosses artères élastiques est modifiée. Ainsi, les lamelles élastiques de la paroi vasculaire se fragmentent ou sont dégradées, en plus de calcifier. De même, l’accumulation de protéines plus rigides, comme le collagène, entraîne le développement de la fibrose. Ces modulations vont mener à l’augmentation de la rigidité artérielle et au développement de l’hypertension systolique isolée. En utilisant un modèle animal de calcification basé sur l’inhibition d’une protéine anti-calcifiante, la matrix Gla protein, avec la warfarine, nous avons étudié la séquence des événements impliqués dans le développement de l’hypertension systolique isolée. Nous avons observé l’activation précoce et transitoire de MMP-9, puis du TGF-ß, précédant la modulation phénotypique des cellules musculaires lisses vasculaires, la calcification et les changements hémodynamiques. L’inhibition des métalloprotéinases et du TGF-ß a permis de prévenir la calcification vasculaire. Nous avons également étudié le rôle joué par une enzyme de la matrice extracellulaire, la transglutaminase 2, dans le développement de la calcification associée à l’hypertension systolique isolée. À l’aide d’un nouvel inhibiteur de cette enzyme, qui a permis de prévenir la calcification, nous avons établi que la transglutaminase était un élément clé dans le processus pathologique. Ces travaux ont permis de démontré l’intérêt de nouvelles avenues thérapeutiques ciblant directement la matrice extracellulaire, particulièrement la MMP-9, le TGF-ß et la transglutaminase 2, dans la pathologie de l’hypertension systolique isolée. / Within the vascular wall, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts are surrounded by a complex and structured network of secreted macromolecules and proteins, the extracellular matrix. Reciprocal interactions between matrix and cells are essential to growth, development and remodeling. However, in pathological situations, the alteration of these interactions can lead to the development of different disease states. With aging, the extracellular matrix of large elastic arteries undergoes several modifications. The elastic lamellae are fragmented or degraded and calcify, whereas more rigid proteins, such as collagen, accumulate and cause fibrosis. These alterations are associated with the stiffening of arteries, which results in the development of isolated systolic hypertension. In order to study the sequence of events occuring in the development of this pathology, we used an animal model of calcification based on the inhibition of a matrix Gla protein, which physiologically prevents calcification, with warfarin. We observed an acute and transient activation of MMP-9 and TGF-ß, which preceded the phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells, calcification and changes to hemodynamic parameters. Moreover, the inhibition of MMPs and TGF-ß prevented vascular calcification. We also studied the role of an extracellular matrix enzyme, transglutaminase 2, in the development of vascular calcification associated with isolated systolic hypertension. Using a novel inhibitor of this enzyme, we established a key role for transglutaminase 2 in this pathological process. This thesis demonstrates the relevance of directly targeting the extracellular matrix, particularly MMP-9, TGF-ß and transglutaminase 2, as a novel therapeutic avenue in the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A disfunção endotelial tem sido sugerida como evento precoce na patogênese das complicações vasculares do DM1. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a função endotelial na microcirculação e rigidez arterial no diabetes tipo 1 comparando com controles não diabéticos e correlacionando com variáveis clínicas, demográficas e laboratoriais. Foram avaliados 57 pacientes com diabetes tipo 1 com idade de 32,5 (13-61) anos e duração de doença de 15 (1-48) anos e 53 controles através de fluxometria cutânea por laser-Doppler após iontoforese de Acetilcolina(ACh) (resposta endotélio dependente), hiperemia reativa pós oclusiva(HRPO) e a capacidade máxima de vasodilatação após hiperemia térmica. Já a resposta endotélio independente foi avaliada após iontoforese de Nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS). A rigidez arterial foi mensurada através da análise da onda de pulso digital com os índices de rigidez arterial e de reflexão. Os pacientes diabéticos foram submetidos à avaliação clínica e laboratorial (histórico de tabagismo, dose diária de insulina, duração do diabetes, uso de drogas que alteram a função endotelial como anti-hipertensivos e estatinas, níveis pressóricos, índice de massa corporal, excreção urinária de albumina, perfil lipídico, controle glicêmico e níveis de proteína C-reativa). O fluxo microvascular médio em repouso não foi diferente entre pacientes e controles , assim como a complacência arterial mensurada através do índice de rigidez arterial e do índice de reflexão. A resposta vascular a vasodilatação mediada pela ACh encontrou-se significantemente reduzida nos pacientes (p=0,002). No entanto, apesar da diferença verificada na área abaixo da curva de NPS em relação ao controle, a análise por medidas repetidas não apontou diferença entre os grupos em relação às doses entre os grupos (p=0,15). A vasodilatação cutânea máxima induzida pela hiperemia térmica foi maior entre os controles em comparação com os diabéticos &#61677;93,6(24,5-379-,9) e 56,6(31,5-204,5), respectivamente p=0,04&#61693;. Por outro lado, durante a HRPO, o aumento máximo no fluxo e a área abaixo da resposta hiperêmica não divergiram entre pacientes e controles, embora o tempo para alcançar o fluxo máximo tenha sido maior nos diabéticos do que nos controles(p=0,02). As principais variáveis correlacionadas com a microcirculação foram o ácido úrico, a hemoglobina glicada, a idade e a proteína C reativa, e com a rigidez arterial, foram a duração do Diabetes, a Pressão arterial diastólica e o HDL. Apesar da correlação entre o uso de drogas com propriedades hemorreológicas e a rigidez arterial, a exclusão dos pacientes usuários daqueles medicamentos não alterou os resultados obtidos. Concluímos que, na população de diabéticos tipo 1 estudada, a resposta vascular endotélio dependente, e a capacidade máxima de vasodilatação estão significativamente reduzidas. Não houve diferença entre diabéticos e controles quanto à rigidez arterial. Ademais, a vasodilatação microcirculatória mediada pela Acetilcolina pode ser correlacionada com a rigidez arterial em diabéticos. Estudos posteriores devem ser realizados no intuito de avaliar a influência exercida pelas drogas que alteram a função endotelial sobre a reatividade micro e macrovascular. / Endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes appears to be an early event in the genesis of vascular complications. The purpose of the present study is to assess endothelial function in the microcirculation and arterial stiffness, by comparing with non-diabetic controls, and correlating with clinical, demographic and laboratorial parameters. We evaluated 57 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 32.5 (13-61) years and with a disease duration of 15 (1-48)years, and 53 controls using laser Doppler flowmetry during low-current iontophoresis of acetylcholine (ACh) (endothelium dependent response), post occlusive reactive hyperemia(PORH) and maximum vasodilator function during thermal hyperemia. Endothelium-independent response was measured after iontophoresis of sodium nitroprusside (SNP).The peripheral pressure waveform was analyzed to assess the arterial stiffness. Diabetic patients underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation (smoking, disease duration, daily insulin dose, use of medications that could improve endothelial function such as antihypertensive drugs and statins, blood pressure, body mass index, urinary albumin excretion, lipid profile, glycemic control and C-reactive protein levels-CRP). Mean resting microvascular flux did not differ between control subjects and patients with type 1 diabetes, as well as arterial stiffness assessed through stiffness index and reflection index. Microvascular response to ACh was significantly reduced in patients (p=0,002). However, despite the reduction ofAUC NPS, the analysis with repeated measures disclosed no difference between the groups in relation to the doses (p=0,15). Maximal skin microvascular vasodilation induced by thermal hyperemia was found to be higher in the control group than among patients (&#61677;93,6(24,5-379-,9) e 56,6(31,5-204,5), respectively p=0,04). On the other hand, during PORH, maximal increase in flux and area under the curve of the hyperemic response did not differ between patients and controls, although the time frame to reach maximum flux and the time to half recovery after hyperemia was longer in patients than in controls (P=0.02) . Uric acid, hba1c, age and CRP were the most important contributing factors to the variation of microvascular reactivity, while disease duration, the diastolic arterial pressure and HDL cholesterol were independently associated to arterial stiffness. Despite the correlation between drugs with hemorheologycal properties and arterial stiffness, the exclusion of patients who were taking such substances did not affect the results. We conclude that in the studied population of type 1 diabetic patients, the endothelium-dependent vascular responses and maximal vasodilator capacity are significantly reduced. In what concerns arterial stiffness, our study disclosed no difference between diabetics and controls. Moreover, Acetylcholine response can be correlated to arterial stiffness in diabetics, and further studies aiming at the evaluation of the micro and macrovascular reactivity should be performed with consumers of drugs which may be likely to affect the endothelial function.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:13:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CarlosEATC_DISSERT.pdf: 535957 bytes, checksum: 4a4cb0797470f9dc7e83436d9bfc8330 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-16 / This study aimed to determine the influence of strength training (ST), in three weekly sessions over ten weeks, on cardiovascular parameters and anthropometric measurements. It is a before and after intervention trial, with a sample composed of 30 individuals. Participants were adults aged between 18 and 40 years, from both sexes and sedentary for at least three months previously. Tests were computed ergospirometry, CRP, PWV and body composition (dependent variables) before and after the experiment. Independent variables, age and sex, were considered in order to determine their influence on the dependent variablesevaluatedend. By comparing the initial cardiovascular parameters with those obtained after intervention in patients undergoing the ST proposed (a Student s t-test was conducted within each group for samples matched to parameters with normal distribution, while the Wilcoxin was applied for those without), there was no significant difference in PWV(p =0469) or PCR(p =0.247), but there was an increase in anaerobic threshold(AT) (p=0.004) and Maximal Oxygen Uptake(VO2max) (p =0.052). In regard to anthropometric measures, individuals significantly reduced their body fat percentage (p<0.001) and fat mass (p<0,001), as well as increasing lean mass (p<0.001). However, no changes were recorded in the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (p= 0.777), body mass (p=0.226) or body mass index (BMI) (p =0.212). Findings of this study lead us to believe that the proposed ST, and did not increase the VOP or PCR improves cardiorespiratory capacity and body composition. Devotees of this training can therefore safely enjoy all its benefits without risk to the cardiovascular system / O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a influ?ncia do TF, com frequ?ncia de tr?s sess?es semanais e dura??o de dez semanas, sobre par?metros cardiovasculares e antropom?tricos. Trata-se de um estudo de interven??o do tipo antes-depois, cuja amostra foi composta por 30 indiv?duos. Os mesmos eram adultos com idade compreendida entre 18 e 40 anos, de ambos os sexos e sedent?rios h? pelo menos tr?s meses. Foram realizados os testes da ergoespirometria computadorizada, PCR, VOP e composi??o corporal (vari?veis dependentes), antes e logo ap?s o experimento. As vari?veis independentes, idade e sexo, foram aferidas no sentido de verificar seus efeitos sobre as vari?veis dependentes avaliadas. Ao comparar os par?metros cardiovasculares iniciais com os obtidos ap?s a interven??o nos indiv?duos submetidos ao TF proposto(atrav?s dos testes t de Student para amostras emparelhadas para os par?metros que tiveram distribui??o normal e para os que n?o a possu?ram, o Wilcoxon), n?o houve diferen?a significativa nem na VOP (p =0.469) nem na PCR (p=0,247), por?m houve aumento no Limiar Anaer?bio (LA) (p=0,004) e no consumo m?ximo de oxig?nio (VO2m?x) (p=0,052). Em rela??o ?s medidas antropom?tricas, os indiv?duos diminu?ram significativamente o percentual de gordura (p<0,001) e a massa de gordura (p<0,001), aumentaram a massa livre de gordura (p<0,001), por?m n?o alteraram a rela??o cintura-quadril (RCQ) (p= 0,777), massa corporal (p=0,226) nem o ?ndice de massa corporal (IMC) (p =0,212). Os achados do presente estudo nos levam a crer que o TF proposto, al?m de n?o aumentar a VOP nem a PCR, melhora a capacidade cardiorrespirat?ria e a composi??o corporal. Portanto, os adeptos de tal treinamento podem usufruir, com seguran?a, de todos os seus benef?cios sem risco ao sistema cardiovascular

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A disfunção endotelial tem sido sugerida como evento precoce na patogênese das complicações vasculares do DM1. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a função endotelial na microcirculação e rigidez arterial no diabetes tipo 1 comparando com controles não diabéticos e correlacionando com variáveis clínicas, demográficas e laboratoriais. Foram avaliados 57 pacientes com diabetes tipo 1 com idade de 32,5 (13-61) anos e duração de doença de 15 (1-48) anos e 53 controles através de fluxometria cutânea por laser-Doppler após iontoforese de Acetilcolina(ACh) (resposta endotélio dependente), hiperemia reativa pós oclusiva(HRPO) e a capacidade máxima de vasodilatação após hiperemia térmica. Já a resposta endotélio independente foi avaliada após iontoforese de Nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS). A rigidez arterial foi mensurada através da análise da onda de pulso digital com os índices de rigidez arterial e de reflexão. Os pacientes diabéticos foram submetidos à avaliação clínica e laboratorial (histórico de tabagismo, dose diária de insulina, duração do diabetes, uso de drogas que alteram a função endotelial como anti-hipertensivos e estatinas, níveis pressóricos, índice de massa corporal, excreção urinária de albumina, perfil lipídico, controle glicêmico e níveis de proteína C-reativa). O fluxo microvascular médio em repouso não foi diferente entre pacientes e controles , assim como a complacência arterial mensurada através do índice de rigidez arterial e do índice de reflexão. A resposta vascular a vasodilatação mediada pela ACh encontrou-se significantemente reduzida nos pacientes (p=0,002). No entanto, apesar da diferença verificada na área abaixo da curva de NPS em relação ao controle, a análise por medidas repetidas não apontou diferença entre os grupos em relação às doses entre os grupos (p=0,15). A vasodilatação cutânea máxima induzida pela hiperemia térmica foi maior entre os controles em comparação com os diabéticos &#61677;93,6(24,5-379-,9) e 56,6(31,5-204,5), respectivamente p=0,04&#61693;. Por outro lado, durante a HRPO, o aumento máximo no fluxo e a área abaixo da resposta hiperêmica não divergiram entre pacientes e controles, embora o tempo para alcançar o fluxo máximo tenha sido maior nos diabéticos do que nos controles(p=0,02). As principais variáveis correlacionadas com a microcirculação foram o ácido úrico, a hemoglobina glicada, a idade e a proteína C reativa, e com a rigidez arterial, foram a duração do Diabetes, a Pressão arterial diastólica e o HDL. Apesar da correlação entre o uso de drogas com propriedades hemorreológicas e a rigidez arterial, a exclusão dos pacientes usuários daqueles medicamentos não alterou os resultados obtidos. Concluímos que, na população de diabéticos tipo 1 estudada, a resposta vascular endotélio dependente, e a capacidade máxima de vasodilatação estão significativamente reduzidas. Não houve diferença entre diabéticos e controles quanto à rigidez arterial. Ademais, a vasodilatação microcirculatória mediada pela Acetilcolina pode ser correlacionada com a rigidez arterial em diabéticos. Estudos posteriores devem ser realizados no intuito de avaliar a influência exercida pelas drogas que alteram a função endotelial sobre a reatividade micro e macrovascular. / Endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes appears to be an early event in the genesis of vascular complications. The purpose of the present study is to assess endothelial function in the microcirculation and arterial stiffness, by comparing with non-diabetic controls, and correlating with clinical, demographic and laboratorial parameters. We evaluated 57 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 32.5 (13-61) years and with a disease duration of 15 (1-48)years, and 53 controls using laser Doppler flowmetry during low-current iontophoresis of acetylcholine (ACh) (endothelium dependent response), post occlusive reactive hyperemia(PORH) and maximum vasodilator function during thermal hyperemia. Endothelium-independent response was measured after iontophoresis of sodium nitroprusside (SNP).The peripheral pressure waveform was analyzed to assess the arterial stiffness. Diabetic patients underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation (smoking, disease duration, daily insulin dose, use of medications that could improve endothelial function such as antihypertensive drugs and statins, blood pressure, body mass index, urinary albumin excretion, lipid profile, glycemic control and C-reactive protein levels-CRP). Mean resting microvascular flux did not differ between control subjects and patients with type 1 diabetes, as well as arterial stiffness assessed through stiffness index and reflection index. Microvascular response to ACh was significantly reduced in patients (p=0,002). However, despite the reduction ofAUC NPS, the analysis with repeated measures disclosed no difference between the groups in relation to the doses (p=0,15). Maximal skin microvascular vasodilation induced by thermal hyperemia was found to be higher in the control group than among patients (&#61677;93,6(24,5-379-,9) e 56,6(31,5-204,5), respectively p=0,04). On the other hand, during PORH, maximal increase in flux and area under the curve of the hyperemic response did not differ between patients and controls, although the time frame to reach maximum flux and the time to half recovery after hyperemia was longer in patients than in controls (P=0.02) . Uric acid, hba1c, age and CRP were the most important contributing factors to the variation of microvascular reactivity, while disease duration, the diastolic arterial pressure and HDL cholesterol were independently associated to arterial stiffness. Despite the correlation between drugs with hemorheologycal properties and arterial stiffness, the exclusion of patients who were taking such substances did not affect the results. We conclude that in the studied population of type 1 diabetic patients, the endothelium-dependent vascular responses and maximal vasodilator capacity are significantly reduced. In what concerns arterial stiffness, our study disclosed no difference between diabetics and controls. Moreover, Acetylcholine response can be correlated to arterial stiffness in diabetics, and further studies aiming at the evaluation of the micro and macrovascular reactivity should be performed with consumers of drugs which may be likely to affect the endothelial function.

Arterial stiffness represented by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is considered to be an independent cardiovascular risk factor. This study was focused on large artery properties investigation in specific forms of hypertension using applanation tonometer Sphygmocor (Atcor Medical). PWV was significantly higher in resistant hypertension patients when compared to moderate essential hypertension (EH) patients. This difference appears to be independent of clinical blood pressure (BP). Night-time BP appears to be a more accurate predictor of PWV in EH. In another study we demonstrated that primary hyperparathyroidism (PH) (both hypertensive or non-hypertensive forms) might be associated with higher PWV when compared to EH patients or to normotensive controls and that this difference is independent of age and clinical BP. Neither calcium serum level, nor parathyroid hormone has been associated with PWV. Specific treatment by parathyroidectomy (PTX) seems to be beneficial for PWV decrease, which might be mainly determined by improved BP control after surgery. Since PTX indications for asymptomatic forms of PH have been discussed, our data suggest the potential benefit to the extent of subclinical organ damage after surgical treatment in these patients. Similarly, we prooved higher PWV in...

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease, and patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) - the most common endocrine cause of hypertension - have a higher incidence of CV complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of metabolic differences and organ complications - kidney, heart and blood vessels damage in patients with essential hypertension (EH), PA and its most common forms - idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) and aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). We found a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome and a higher incidence of metabolic abnormalities in IHA compared to APA - higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of triglycerides and lower levels of HDL cholesterol and thereby a higher cardiometabolic risk. Metabolic profile of patients with IHA is similar to EH in contrast to APA. Arterial stiffness was expressed as pulse wave velocity (PWV), in central arteries as carotid-femoral PWV and at peripheral level as femoral-ankle PWV. Patients with PA with comparable levels of blood pressure (BP) have higher stiffness of central elastic and peripheral muscular arteries than patients with EH. The main predictor of impaired peripheral arterial stiffness is the plasma aldosterone level. Patients with IHA have higher central arterial...

Introduction: Il est bien établi que les maladies vasculaires, cérébrovasculaires et cardiovasculaires se manifestent différemment chez les hommes que chez les femmes. La rigidité artérielle (RA), un prédicteur indépendant de la maladie cardiovasculaire (MCV), a été associée à des changements de la réactivité cérébrovasculaire (RCV) et à un déclin cognitif lors du vieillissement. Plus précisément, les personnes âgées ayant une RA plus élevée présentent un déclin plus marqué au niveau des tâches exécutives. Une diminution des fonctions exécutives (FE) est également liée à une réduction de la RCV chez les personnes âgées. Cependant, il est important de noter que la relation entre la RA et la RCV est plus complexe. Certaines études montrent une diminution de la RCV associée avec une RA plus élevée, tandis que d’autres rapportent une RCV préservée avec une RA élevée. De plus, des travaux récents suggèrent que les différences de concentration en hématocrit (HCT) pourraient avoir une incidence sur les mesures de RA. Ici, nous avons étudié le rôle possible du sexe et de l'HCT sur ces relations hémodynamiques. Méthodes: Des acquisitions ont été effectuées chez 48 adultes âgés en bonne santé (31 femmes, 63 ± 5 ans) dans un scanneur d’imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM) 3T. Des données de marquage de spin artériel pseudo-continu utilisant des lectures à double écho ont été collectées pendant un défi d'hypercapnie (changement de CO2 de 5mmHg, pendant deux blocs de 2 minutes). La RCV a été calculée comme étant le % de changement du signal de débit sanguin cérébral (% ∆CBF) par changement de mmHg dans le CO2 à la fin de l’expiration. Les données de vitesse d’onde de pouls (VOP) aortique ont été acquises à l’aide d’une série de contraste de phase cine encodée par la vitesse durant 60 phases cardiaques avec un encodage en vélocité de 180cm/s dans le plan. La VOP dans l'arcade aortique a été calculée entre l'aorte ascendante et descendante. Les analyses statistiques ont été effectuées à l'aide de SPSS. Résultats: Un test de modération contrôlant pour l’âge et le volume des hyperintensités de la matière blanche a révélé un effet direct significatif de la VOP sur la RCV (β = 1,630, IC à 95% [.654, 2,607), ainsi que de la VOP sur la FE (β = -. 998, IC 95% [-1,697, -,299]). Le sexe a modéré la relation entre VOP et RCV (β = -1,013, IC 95% [-1,610, -,4169]), et VOP et FE (β = .447, IC 95% [.020, .875]). En outre, il existait un effet significatif de l’HCT sur les différences de sexe observées dans l’effet de modération (VOP * SEXE) sur la FE (β = -0,7680, SE = 0,3639, IC 95% [-1,5047, -0,0314], p = 0,0414). Conclusion: Nos résultats indiquent que les relations entre la VOP, la RCV et la FE sont complexes et que le sexe et l’HCT modulentces relations. L’influence des variations hormonales (p. ex. la ménopause) sur ces relations devrait être étudiée dans le futur et pourrait permettre de personnaliser les stratégies de prévention des MCV. / Introduction: It is well established that sex differences exist in the manifestation of vascular, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness (AS), an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), has been associated with changes in cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and cognitive decline in aging. Specifically, older adults with increased AS show a steeper decline on executive function (EF) tasks. Decreased EF is also linked with reduction in CVR among older adults. Interestingly, the relationship between AS and CVR is more complex, where some works show decreased CVR with increased AS, and others demonstrate preserved CVR with higher AS. In addition, recent work suggests that measurements of AS may be affected by differences in the concentration of hematocrit (HCT). Here, we investigated the possible role of sex and HCT on these hemodynamic relationships. Methods: Acquisitions were completed in 48 healthy older adults (31 females, 63 ± 5 years) on a 3T MRI. Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling using dual-echo readouts were collected during a hypercapnia challenge (5mmHg CO2 change, during two, 2 min blocks). CVR was calculated as the %∆CBF signal per mmHg change in end-tidal CO2. Aortic PWV data was acquired using a cine phase contrast velocity encoded series during 60 cardiac phases with a velocity encoding of 180cm/s through plane. PWV in the aortic arch was computed between ascending and descending aorta. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS. Results: A moderation model test controlling for age and white matter hyperintensity volume revealed a significant direct effect of PWV on CVR (β=1.630, 95% CI [.654, 2.607), as well as PWV on EF (β=-.998, 95% CI [-1.697, -.299]). Sex moderated the relationship between PWV and CVR (β=-1.013, 95% CI [-1.610, -.4169]), and PWV and EF (β=.447, 95% CI [.020, .875]). In addition, there was a significant effect of HCT on the sex differences observed in the moderation effect (PWV*SEX) on EF (β=-0.7680, SE = 0.3639 ,95% CI [-1.5047, -0.0314], p=0.0414). Conclusion: Together, our results indicate that the relationships between PWV, CVR and EF is complex and in part mediated by sex and HCT. Future work should investigate the role of hormone variations (e.g., menopause) on these relationships to better personalize CVD prevention strategies.