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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 compliance (stiffness) as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis]

Jens Nürnberger1, Andres Kribben, Thomas Philipp

  • 1Klinik für Nieren- und Hochdruckkrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen. jens.nuernberger@uni-duisburg-essen.de

Herz
|August 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffening contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease and mortality. Assessing arterial stiffness using methods like pulse wave velocity can predict future cardiovascular risk and survival.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology.
  • Biomedical engineering and medical device technology.

Context:

  • Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, are primary causes of illness and death in industrialized nations.
  • Arterial wall stiffening is a key pathophysiological mechanism underlying cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • Factors influencing arterial stiffening include age, gender, blood pressure, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, and hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose:

  • To review the pathophysiological role of arterial stiffening in cardiovascular disease.
  • To present various models, indices, and techniques for evaluating arterial stiffness.
  • To summarize clinical studies on the predictive value of arterial stiffness markers for cardiovascular risk and survival.

Summary:

  • Arterial stiffness is a significant contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • Assessment of arterial stiffness, traditionally via pulse wave velocity and increasingly by pulse wave analysis (e.g., augmentation index), is crucial in clinical and epidemiological studies.
  • This review details the mechanisms, measurement techniques, and clinical significance of arterial stiffness.

Impact:

  • Highlights the importance of arterial stiffness as a predictor of cardiovascular events.
  • Provides a comprehensive overview of methods for assessing arterial stiffness.
  • Informs clinical practice and research regarding cardiovascular risk stratification.

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