Effect of elevating the wrist on the radial pulse in aortic regurgitation: Corrigan revisited

Five patients with severe aortic regurgitation had their intraarterial radial pulse recorded simultaneously with the external radial artery deflection of the other wrist. Recordings were made with the arms horizontal and repeated after elevation of the wrists, until the arms were vertical. Elevating the arm of a patient with aortic regurgitation increased the pulsation recorded over the radial artery, lowered mean intraarterial pressure, and reduced the pulse pressure. The results suggest that elevation increases the compliance of the arterial wall, primarily by moving the artery to a lower position on its pressure-volume curve. The same changes occurred in 5 normal subjects but were less pronounced.