title: Comparison between Regional and Local Pulse-Wave Velocity Data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gold standard for pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurement is determination of the carotid-femoral cfPWV, reflecting regional aortic PWV. Nevertheless, in several echocardiographic laboratories, PWV is measured locally, most commonly at the common carotid artery (CCA). The aim of this study was to compare regional and local PWV values in healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 22 prospectively enrolled healthy subjects, mean age 38.7 ± 11.1 years, 50% male. For regional PWV measurement, we evaluated cfPWV with a standard echo scanner. Regional PWV was measured at the CCA, with semiautomated dedicated software (MyLab, EsaOte, Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  cfPWV and local PWV values correlated significantly with high Pearson correlation coefficient (0.62, P = 0.002). Mean regional cfPWV (9.29 ± 3.73 m/s), however, was significantly higher than mean local PWV value (5.96 ± 1.08 m/s) (P < 0.001). The difference persisted in the subgroup analysis using different cfPWV cutoff values (10, 9, 8, and 7 m/s), except for subjects with cfPWV ≤7 m/s, where regional and local PWV values were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a group of healthy volunteers, regional and local PWV values showed a good correlation. However, regional PWV was significantly higher than local PWV. These findings should be carefully taken into account when using this technique in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging and Functional Diagnostics, National Cardiology Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Iana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Simova
authors.affiliation: Department of Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging and Functional Diagnostics, National Cardiology Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Tzvetana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katova
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico University Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico University Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galderisi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: arterial stiffness; common carotid artery; healthy volunteers; local (carotid) pulse-wave velocity; regional (aortic) pulse-wave velocity