title: Carotid artery distensibility and distending pressure in hypertensive humans.
abstract: Whether the decrease in large-artery distensibility observed in hypertensive patients is due primarily to an increase in distending pressure or to hypertension-induced changes in structural properties has been much debated. We determined noninvasively the diameter-pressure curve of the common carotid artery over the systolic-diastolic range by continuously recording both the pulsatile changes in internal diameter (high-resolution echo-tracking system) and, simultaneously on the contralateral artery, the pressure waveform (high-fidelity applanation tonometry). We then derived the distensibility/pressure curve and compared arterial distensibility in 14 normotensive subjects and 15 age- and sex-matched hypertensive subjects at their respective mean arterial pressures (MAP) and at a common distending pressure: 100 mm Hg. Distensibility decreased as blood pressure increased, and distensibility at MAP was significantly lower in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects (7.8 +/- 0.7 versus 11.7 +/- 1.7 kPa-1.10(-3), mean +/- SEM; P < .05). In hypertensive subjects, the distensibility-pressure curve was shifted toward higher levels of blood pressure, and a large part of the curve overlapped that of normotensive subjects. No significant downward shift of the distensibility-pressure curve was observed in hypertensive subjects, and distensibility at 100 mm Hg was not significantly different from that of normotensive subjects (10.0 +/- 1.0 versus 9.0 +/- 1.1 kPa-1.10(-3)). Distensibility at 100 mm Hg decreased with aging (P < .05) and was not reduced in hypertensive subjects compared with normotensive subjects after adjustment for age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Broussais Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caviezel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Girerd
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Billaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boutouyrie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoeks
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*