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[Pulse wave velocity, thermography in the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis]
K Takazawa1, T Iketani, C Ibukiyama
12nd Dept. Intern. Med., Tokyo Medical College.
Insights
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) increases with arterial stiffness from arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure. Thermography can detect arteriosclerosis by observing reduced skin temperature due to blood flow disturbances.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Biomedical engineering
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a key indicator of arterial stiffness.
- Arteriosclerosis and hypertension are major contributors to increased arterial stiffness.
- Thermography offers a non-invasive method to assess circulatory function.
Observation:
- PWV increases with both organic arterial wall stiffness (arteriosclerosis) and functional stiffness (hypertension).
- Age-related changes in PWV are globally recognized.
- PWV measured in the ascending aorta via characteristic impedance is lower than conventional descending aorta measurements.
Findings:
- Arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular events, is influenced by arteriosclerosis and blood pressure.
- Thermography can indirectly indicate arteriosclerosis by detecting skin temperature reductions linked to impaired blood flow.
Implications:
- Understanding PWV dynamics aids in cardiovascular risk assessment.
- Thermography presents a potential tool for early arteriosclerosis detection.
- Further research into characteristic impedance for PWV assessment may refine diagnostic accuracy.
Abstract:
1. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) increased with increasing organic stiffness of the arterial wall mainly caused by arterio-sclerosis and also increasing functional stiffness of the arterial wall mainly caused by elevation of blood pressure. Age related changes in PWV have been recognized in variable countries. The PWV in the ascending aorta calculated by the characteristic impedance (378 +/- 141 cm/sec) was lower than that of conventional measurement in the descending aorta (697 +/- 144 cm/sec). 2. Thermography provide us indirect information of arteriosclerosis through reduction of skin temperature caused by disturbance of blood flow.