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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
05:51

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness

Published on: May 3, 2018

Pulse pressure and inflammatory markers in apparently healthy premenopausal women

St Blaj1, C Jurcut, Ruxandra Jurcut

  • 1Central Military Hospital, Internal Medicine I Department, 88, Mircea Vulcanescu Str., Bucharest, Romania.

Romanian Journal of Internal Medicine = Revue Roumaine De Medecine Interne
|November 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pulse pressure (PP), a marker for arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk, showed correlations with inflammatory markers fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). However, these links weakened with age, but ESR remained significant with pulse pressure after adjusting for body mass index.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Inflammation Research
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pulse pressure (PP) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk, potentially causing arterial wall and endothelial lesions.
  • Systemic inflammation is a key pathway in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis.
  • Understanding the relationship between arterial stiffness markers and inflammation is crucial for cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between pulse pressure and common markers of systemic inflammation.
  • To explore the influence of age and body mass index (BMI) on these correlations.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 54 healthy premenopausal women.
  • Measurements included anthropometrics, blood chemistry (fibrinogen, ESR, WBC), and blood pressure.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to assess correlations, controlling for age and BMI.

Main Results:

  • Fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in women with PP > 50 mmHg.
  • Initial correlations found between PP and fibrinogen (P < 0.05) and ESR (P < 0.05).
  • After controlling for age, correlations between PP and fibrinogen/ESR were not significant, but ESR remained significant with PP after controlling for BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest a relationship between pulse pressure and inflammatory markers like ESR and fibrinogen in healthy women.
  • The influence of age on the PP-inflammation link is notable, diminishing the correlation.
  • Body mass index may play a role in maintaining the association between ESR and pulse pressure.

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