Pulse wave velocity and arterial elasticity in arterial hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and related conditions

Abstract 1. 1. The arterial elasticity in normal subjects and in patients with arteriosclerosis, arterial hypertension, and other conditions with alterations in the arterial pressure was estimated from measurements of the subclavian-femoral (aortic), femoral-dorsalis pedis (leg) and carotid or subclavian-brachial (arm) pulse wave velocities, as well as from studies of the arterial extensibility and oscillometric curves. 2. 2. The pulse wave velocity increased with age. Values on patients with clinical and x-ray evidence of marked thickening and calcification of the arteries but with normal blood pressures fell on the curve for controls of the same age group. The extensibility curves of the normal and arteriosclerotic groups were essentially similar. Patients with histories of hypertension of several years' duration, but with normal blood pressures at the time of the test, had essentially the same pulse wave velocities as controls of the same age. 3. 3. Patients with arterial hypertension showed increased pulse wave velocities. The data obtained did not reveal whether this change follows the systolic, diastolic, or pulse pressure most closely. The pulse wave velocity of the aorta was often more affected by blood pressure or pulse pressure changes than was that of the arteries of the extremities. 4. 4. In hemiplegia, tonus differences in the arteries of the two sides were not indicated by differences in the pulse wave velocity. 5. 5. In some cases of arteriosclerosis, oscillometric curves on the calf of the leg were low as compared with those of the upper arm, but the results were quite variable. In patients with arterial hypertension, oscillometric curves were shifted to the right, and the maximal oscillometric phase was often high. 6. 6. While measurements of pulse wave velocities and oscillometric curves give significant information on the physiological aspects of arterial elasticity in health and in disease, no practical conclusions can be drawn from these measurements on an individual case. An apparent discrepancy exists between structural characteristics of the peripheral arteries in arteriosclerosis, as estimated by clinical and x-ray examination, and the results obtained with measurements of the pulse wave velocities. An explanation for this apparent discrepancy is offered.