Non-invasive blood pressure monitoring in man

Non-invasive, ambulatory, blood pressure monitoring is now widely used for research and clinical purpose. Its main advantages over the traditional sphygmomanometric method pertain to its ability in providing measures of centrality, but also variability, 24-h profile, and excess over selected limits (load) of BP in the individual subject. Placebo and "white-coat" effects are much less evident when this monitoring technique is used. However, standardization of the procedures, choice of methods of data analysis, definition of normalcy, and particularly prognostic value are still a matter of discussion. Hence, blood pressure monitoring cannot be used as a routine diagnostic technique, except in selected clinical situation of proven advantage over the traditional sphygmomanometric method.