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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Brachial arterial stiffness predicts coronary atherosclerosis in patients at risk for cardiovascular diseases
Kunio Yufu1, Naohiko Takahashi, Futoshi Anan
1Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, Oita Medical University, Oita, Japan.
Insights
Percent mean pulse amplitude (%MPA) in the brachial artery may predict coronary atherosclerosis. Lower %MPA was observed in patients with significant coronary artery stenosis, suggesting its potential as a novel atherosclerosis marker.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Biology
- Diagnostic Markers
Background:
- Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an established predictor of atherosclerosis.
- Percent mean pulse amplitude (%MPA) is a novel proposed marker for atherosclerosis.
- Coronary atherosclerosis severity is assessed by Gensini score and coronary calcium grade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive value of PWV and %MPA for coronary atherosclerosis.
- To compare %MPA and PWV in patients with and without significant coronary artery stenosis.
- To determine the correlation between brachial %MPA and coronary atherosclerosis severity.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-three patients with cardiovascular risk factors were divided into significant coronary artery stenosis (+)stenosis and no significant stenosis (-)stenosis groups.
- Non-invasive vascular screening device used to measure PWV and %MPA at the brachial artery and ankles.
- Coronary atherosclerosis severity assessed using Gensini score and coronary calcium grade.
Main Results:
- Gensini score and coronary calcium grade were significantly higher in the (+)stenosis group.
- Brachial %MPA was significantly lower in the (+)stenosis group compared to the (-)stenosis group.
- Brachial %MPA showed a significant correlation with both Gensini score (r=0.62, P=0.0001) and coronary calcium grade (P=0.030).
Conclusions:
- Brachial %MPA demonstrates predictive value for coronary atherosclerosis.
- %MPA may serve as a novel, non-invasive marker for assessing atherosclerosis risk.
- These findings are relevant for subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a predictor of atherosclerosis. The percent mean pulse amplitude of the artery (%MPA) has been proposed as a novel marker of atherosclerosis. The present study evaluated the predictive value of PWV and the %MPA for coronary atherosclerosis. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was evaluated using both the Gensini score and coronary calcium grade. Thirty-three patients with cardiovascular risk factors were assigned to those with significant coronary artery stenosis ((+)stenosis) group with the presence of > or = 75% coronary artery stenosis (n = 15; age: 68 +/- 7 years, mean +/- SD) or those without significant coronary artery stenosis ((-)stenosis) group (n = 18; age: 66 +/- 8 years). In each patient, the PWV and %MPA at the right brachial artery and both sides of the ankle were obtained using a non-invasive vascular screening device. The Gensini score and coronary calcium grade were higher in the +stenosis group than they were in the (-)stenosis group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The brachial %MPA was lower in the (+)stenosis group than it was in the -stenosis group (P < 0.005). Both the Gensini score and the coronary calcium grade correlated with the brachial %MPA (r = 0.62, P = 0.0001 and P = 0.33, P = 0.030, respectively). Our observations suggest that brachial %MPA provides predictive values for coronary atherosclerosis in subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease.
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