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Updated: Jul 13, 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

Arterial stiffness: clinical relevance, measurement and treatment

Paul K Hamilton1, Christopher J Lockhart, Cathy E Quinn

  • 1Department of Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Queen's University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, Belfast, UK. pk_hamilton@yahoo.co.uk

Clinical Science (London, England : 1979)
|July 12, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Assessing arterial stiffness, a measure of artery wall integrity, can predict cardiovascular risk. This review examines methods for measuring arterial stiffness and potential drug therapies for altered arterial mechanics.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Traditional cardiovascular risk factors impact arterial structure and function.
  • Arterial wall integrity assessment offers a method for predicting individual cardiovascular risk.
  • Arterial stiffness, reflecting changes in arterial mechanical properties, is a key area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and critique methodologies for measuring arterial stiffness.
  • To evaluate the relative merits and limitations of different arterial stiffness assessment techniques.
  • To provide an overview of potential drug therapies for managing altered arterial mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on arterial stiffness measurement techniques.
  • Comparative analysis of methods including pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, and pulse waveform analysis.
  • Evidence-based critique of the strengths and weaknesses of each measurement approach.

Main Results:

  • Multiple methods exist for assessing arterial stiffness, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
  • Understanding the limitations of current measurement techniques is crucial for accurate risk prediction.
  • Various drug therapies show potential for treating conditions associated with altered arterial mechanics.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial stiffness measurement is a valuable tool for cardiovascular risk assessment.
  • Further research is needed to optimize measurement techniques and therapeutic strategies.
  • Integrating arterial stiffness assessment into clinical practice could improve cardiovascular disease management.

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