title: [Pulse wave velocity of the leg minus that of the arm measured with a custom device correlates to the coronary calcium quantification].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the great arteries is an indicator of vascular risk. Our objective was to identify the PWV index between the arms and legs that best correlates with the coronary calcium quantification (CCQ) and to compare it with other methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight-one patients without vascular disease underwent the following measurements: CCQ; carotid intima-media thickness (IMT); carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV), using COMPLIOR; and PWV in the arms and legs, with our own device (abiPWV, ankle brachial index PWV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in PWVs between the leg and arm (l-a PWV) measured with abiPWV was the index that best correlated with CCQ (r=0.401, P<.001). The correlation between IMT and CCQ and between CF-PWV and CCQ were r=0.366, P=.001; and r=0.385, P=.001, respectively. For a CCQ score higher than 100 as a marker of significant coronary arteriosclerosis, the areas under the curve for l-a PWV, IMT and cfPWV were 0.721 (P=.002), 0.758 (P<.001) and 0.636 (P=.058), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients without vascular disease, the l-a PWV measured with abiPWV appears to be the index that best correlates with the CCQ. This association is comparable to that between IMT and CCQ and between cfPWV and CCQ. The abiPWV is an easy-to-use device that can help improve vascular risk stratification.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería y Terapia Ocupacional, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rico Martín
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Jaraicejo, Jaraicejo, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Nicolás Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiología, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moyano Calvente
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Mogollón Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vega Fernández
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería y Terapia Ocupacional, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Calderón García
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Manuel Encinas, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bacaicoa Lopez de Sabando
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Ingenería Industrial. Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tardio
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, España. Electronic address: juanf.sanchezm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sánchez Muñoz-Torrero
keywords: Cardiovascular risk; Coronary calcium quantification; Cuantificación de calcio coronario; Grosos de íntima media; Intima-media thickness; Pulse wave velocity; Riesgo cardiovascular; Velocidad de onda de pulso