Arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in treated hypertensive subjects according to brachial blood pressure classification.
BACKGROUND
International recommendations have classified brachial blood pressure (BP) in subgroups enabling better cardiovascular risk stratification. Central BP is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk, differing from brachial BP through the predominant influence of arterial stiffness and wave reflections. Central BP has never been studied in relation to international guidelines for brachial BP classification.


METHODS
In 580 chronically treated hypertensive subjects we measured: carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid artery augmentation index (AI) and carotid blood pressures, using applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis, and using brachial BP for carotid pressure wave calibration.


RESULTS
For each given brachial value, carotid systolic blood pressure (SBP) and PP were significantly lower than the corresponding brachial SBP and PP. This pressure amplification was significantly lower in the 'optimal' and 'normal' BP ranges (6.8-7.4 mmHg) than in the higher BP ranges (10.1-11.3 mmHg), mainly depending on heart rate (HR) and PWV levels. PWV gradually increased as a function of brachial BP classification and was a significant predictor of this classification independently of age, drug treatment, atherosclerotic lesions and even mean BP. Finally, PWV was a highly sensitive marker of the effective BP control throughout all decades of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Under chronic antihypertensive therapy, central BP does not strictly parallel the corresponding brachial BP classification, depending on differences in aortic stiffness and HR. Whether aortic PWV might predict the brachial BP classification and/or the presence of effective BP control, as suggested in this study, needs further confirmation.
Safar
Michel E
ME
AP-HP Diagnosis Center, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France. michel.safarhtd.aphp.fr
Blacher
Jacques
J
Protogerou
Athanase
A
Achimastos
Apostolos
A
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents