Non-invasive measurements of arterial compliance in hypertensive compared with normotensive adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine differences in arterial compliance attributable to hypertension.


METHODS
Since measurements of arterial compliance have tended to vary in the past according to the method used, a new technique comprising carotid ultrasound and simultaneous, calibrated, carotid pressure waveform measurements was tested in 43 hypertensives and 43 control subjects matched for age, gender and body size.


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction in compliance among the hypertensive patients, as estimated by the elastic modulus and the ratio of stroke volume to pulse pressure. However, when the non-linearity of the pressure-volume relationship and the impact of distending pressure were taken into account, by the arterial stiffness index and by the increase in arterial wall thickness associated with hypertension by Young's modulus, there were no significant differences in arterial compliance between the two groups.
Roman
M J
MJ
Department of Medicine, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY 10021.
Pini
R
R
Pickering
T G
TG
Devereux
R B
RB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003187:Compliance; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography