Relationship between low-frequency oscillations of blood pressure and changes in arterial diameter.
OBJECTIVE
To study spontaneous variations in radial artery compliance.


METHODS
Compliance was evaluated non-invasively by an echo-tracking system, and variations in sympathovagal tone were analysed by a spectral analysis of continuous blood pressure recordings using a Fast Fourier algorithm. We studied 23 healthy volunteers, aged 25 +/- 4 years (mean +/- SD), at rest, on two occasions at least one day apart (5 +/- 3 days).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the means of the arterial compliance measurements and those of the corresponding spectral analysis. However, the magnitude of change in the low-frequency periods (4-66 mHz) was significantly related (P less than 0.01) to a significant and inverse change in compliance for the same level of blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
While it is possible to use spectral analysis to measure the effect of autonomic nervous regulation on radial artery properties, low-frequency periods cannot be safely ascribed to sympathetic effects alone. Other effects must also be taken into account in measurements of radial artery distensibility.
Siché
J P
JP
Service de Médecine Interne et Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, France.
De Gaudemaris
R
R
Riachi
M
M
Mallion
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003187:Compliance; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009991:Oscillometry; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography