Journal
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
Volume 27, Issue 10, Pages 2028-2035Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0b013e32832f5890
Keywords
arterial stiffness; carotid arteries; pulse wave velocity; ultrasonics
Categories
Funding
- Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands [IS042015]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objectives Increased arterial stiffness is associated with cardiovascular disease. Its applicability in individual patient management, however, is limited due to lack of reliable methods. We developed a method to measure arterial stiffness by means of local pulse wave velocity (PWV), using multiple M-mode ultrasound and the dicrotic notch (PWVdn) rather than the systolic foot (PWVsf) as time-reference point. Methods Systolic foot and dicrotic notch were determined in 14 simultaneously recorded distension waveforms obtained in young and older participants (mean age 26 and 59 years). Linear regression was performed on echo-line position and time-reference point, resulting in a local PWV estimate, either PWVsf or PWVdn. Results PWVdn, at about mean arterial pressure, had a better intra-individual variability (0.6 m/s) than PWVsf (1.1 m/s). The expected difference in stiffness between the two age categories was identified by PWVdn (P < 0.0001), but not by PWVsf. Moreover, in contrast to PWVsf, PWVdn showed a significant correlation with relative distension (r(2)=0.56) and the local distensibility coefficient (r(2)=0.52). Conclusion PWVdn is a noninvasive and suitable measure of arterial stiffness: it has a good reproducibility, discriminates well between age groups, and correlates with local distensibility. PWVdn does not require additional assessment of distance or local pulse pressure. Furthermore, PWVdn is measured locally, at near-mean arterial pressure, thereby better reflecting the effective arterial stiffness, which determines the load the left ventricle is subjected to as it ejects blood. J Hypertens 27: 2028-2035 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available