Relationship between wave reflection and renal damage in hypertensive patients: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Arterial stiffening has harmful effects; peripheral pulse wave reflections deleteriously increase central pressure, but on the contrary they could also possibly be protective, as the pulse is transmitted to the microcirculation to a lesser extent. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the relationship between wave reflection and small vessel damage in the kidney.


METHODS
In 216 hypertensive patients, data on renal resistive index, obtained by Doppler ultrasound sampling of the interlobar arteries, as well as augmentation index (AIx) and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), were retrospectively analyzed. Reflection magnitude was computed through a triangular flow estimate.


RESULTS
AIx and reflection magnitude were positively correlated with resistive index; age, BMI, central pulse pressure, and cholesterol, but not AIx or reflection magnitude, were predictors of resistive index in multivariate analyses. Crossing tertiles of PWV and AIx, resistive index did not differ between patients with high AIx and low PWV (n=25; 0.632 (0.064)) and those with low AIx and high PWV (n=17; 0.645 (0.053)), despite a difference in reflection magnitude (74.9 (6.7) vs. 51.2 (7.3)%; P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Pressure wave reflection is positively correlated with resistive index in a hypertensive population. No negative relationship was found even adjusting for confounders or when it was examined separately from the influence of arterial stiffness. These findings do not support the hypothesis of peripheral wave reflections having a significant protective role for the microcirculation of a low resistance vascular bed such as the kidney.
aInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council bDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Francesco
F
Stea
Melania
M
Sgrò
Francesco
F
Faita
Rosa M
RM
Bruno
Giulia
G
Cartoni
Sabina
S
Armenia
Stefano
S
Taddei
Lorenzo
L
Ghiadoni
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059289:Vascular Stiffness