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Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
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Arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis in essential hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile

John P Lekakis1, Nikos A Zakopoulos, Athanasios D Protogerou

  • 1Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 12 Iridanou Str. 11528 Athens, Greece. theopap@central.ntua.gr

International Journal of Cardiology
|July 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness, a cardiovascular risk, is linked to nighttime blood pressure dipping. Nondippers, with blunted nighttime blood pressure reduction, exhibit stiffer arteries, increasing cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hypertension Research
  • Vascular Physiology

Background:

  • Arterial stiffness is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • Arterial stiffness is often elevated in patients with arterial hypertension.
  • Essential hypertension management requires understanding factors influencing arterial stiffness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To correlate systemic arterial stiffness with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) variables.
  • To investigate the relationship between pulse wave analysis metrics and ABPM in hypertensive patients.
  • To identify predictors of arterial stiffness in essential hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Seventy-two untreated mild to moderate essential hypertension patients were studied.
  • 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed.
  • Applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis assessed arterial stiffness (augmentation index, estimated aortic pulse wave velocity).

Main Results:

  • Clinic systolic blood pressure, 24-h mean heart rate, and height predicted arterial stiffness metrics.
  • Nondippers (blunted nighttime blood pressure reduction) had higher mean systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure.
  • Nondippers exhibited lower blood pressure variability and increased estimated aortic pulse wave velocity, indicating stiffer arteries.

Conclusions:

  • Day-to-night blood pressure variation is a key determinant of arterial stiffness.
  • Reduced nighttime blood pressure dipping is associated with increased arterial stiffness.
  • This association may explain the elevated cardiovascular risk observed in nondippers.
Abstract

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