title: Markers of arterial stiffness in peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: Increased arterial stiffness results from reduced elasticity of the arterial wall and is an independent predictor for cardiovascular risk. The gold standard for assessment of arterial stiffness is the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Other parameters such as central aortic pulse pressure and aortic augmentation index are indirect, surrogate markers of arterial stiffness, but provide additional information on the characteristics of wave reflection. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterised by its association with systolic hypertension, increased arterial stiffness, disturbed wave reflexion and prognosis depending on ankle-brachial pressure index. This review summarises the physiology of pulse wave propagation and reflection and its changes due to aging and atherosclerosis. We discuss different non-invasive assessment techniques and highlight the importance of the understanding of arterial pulse wave analysis for each vascular specialist and primary care physician alike in the context of PAD.
authors: 1 Clinic for Angiology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Husmann
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Jacomella
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Thalhammer
authors: Beatrice R
authors: BR
authors: Amann-Vesti
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Peripheral arterial disease; arterial stiffness; biomarkers; cardiovascular physiology