Non-invasive assessment of systemic elastic behaviour in hypertensive patients: analysis of possible determinants.

Knowledge about the viscoelastic behaviour of the arterial wall has been proved to have physiological importance and clinical usage. Our purpose was to study the changes of the systemic arterial wall's elastic properties non-invasively, in patients with established essential and with borderline hypertension, and to evaluate its possible determinants. Three groups of normotensive, borderline and established essential hypertensive patients were evaluated. Arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured and arterial compliance (Cm) was derived in all patients. Pulse wave velocity was obtained from the pressure values of digitized carotid and radial arteries. Arterial compliance (Cm = dD/dP with P pressure and D diameter) was calculated using a formula derived from the Bramwell and Hill equation: Cm = (1,334 x D)/(2 rho x PWV2), where for D humeral diameter was used as measured by high resolution echograph, and rho is the blood density (rho = 1.06). Pulse wave velocity was significantly higher in established essential hypertensive patients with respect to normotensive patients (p < 0.05). Arterial compliance was significantly diminished in established and in borderline hypertensive patients with respect to normotensive patients (p < 0.05), which implies early alterations in hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Multiple regression analysis of the cofactors showed that age and diastolic pressure are independent determinants of Cm. Impairment of the arterial wall's intrinsic elastic properties was demonstrated in established essential hypertension, independent of age and diastolic pressure.