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Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
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Effect of reflection of arterial pressure on carotid circulation in essential hypertension

K Kohara1, Y Jiang, M Igase

  • 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Onsen-gun, Japan.

American Journal of Hypertension
|November 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Arterial pressure wave reflection, measured by the augmentation index, is linked to structural and functional changes in the carotid artery of hypertensive patients. This includes reduced diastolic blood flow, indicating altered vascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Pressure wave reflection significantly impacts systolic blood pressure augmentation.
  • Understanding these reflections is crucial for managing hypertension and its vascular consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pressure wave reflection and structural/functional alterations in the common carotid artery.
  • To explore the relationship between the carotid augmentation index and various vascular and cardiac parameters in essential hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

  • Carotid arterial pressure waveform analysis to calculate the augmentation index.
  • Assessment of intima-media thickness, plaque presence, carotid artery stiffness, and blood flow velocities.
  • Inclusion of 70 hospitalized essential hypertensive patients.

Main Results:

  • Carotid augmentation index correlated significantly with age, body height, intima-media thickening, plaque count, carotid stiffness, diastolic flow velocity, and left ventricular mass index.
  • A significant negative correlation was found between arterial pressure reflection and the diastolic/systolic ratio of carotid blood flow velocity.
  • Age and left ventricular mass index were identified as independent determinants of the carotid augmentation index.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial pressure wave reflection is associated with morphological and functional changes in the carotid artery.
  • These alterations include a relative reduction in diastolic blood flow, highlighting the impact of wave reflection on vascular hemodynamics in hypertension.

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