title: A new oscillometric method for assessment of arterial stiffness: comparison with tonometric and piezo-electronic methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are parameters of arterial stiffness and wave reflection. PWV and AIx are strong indicators for cardiovascular risk and are used increasingly in clinical practice. Previous systems for assessment of PWV and AIx are investigator dependent and time consuming. The aim of this study was to validate the new oscillometric method (Arteriograph) for determining PWV and AIx by comparing it to two clinically validated, broadly accepted tonometric and piezo-electronic systems (SphygmoCor and Complior).
  
  
  METHODS
  PWV and AIx were measured up to five times in 51 patients with the SphygmoCor, Complior and Arteriograph. In 35 patients, the measurements were repeated after 1 week in a second session using the same protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlations of the PWV as assessed with the Arteriograph with the values obtained using the SphygmoCor (r = 0.67, P < 0.001) and the Complior (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) were highly significant. Variability and reproducibility for PWV were best for the Arteriograph, followed by Complior and SphygmoCor. AIx (SphygmoCor versus Arteriograph) were very closely correlated (r = 0.92, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Arteriograph is a new, easy-to-use and time-effective method for assessing arterial stiffness and wave reflection.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic Bonn, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypertension and Vascular Medicine, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baulmann
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schillings
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rickert
authors.forename: Sakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uen
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Düsing
authors.forename: Miklos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Illyes
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cziraki
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nickering
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mengden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results