ARTERIAL COMPLIANCE IN HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES-MELLITUS

Alterations in the structure and function of large and small arterial vessels occur in hypertension and diabetes mellitus. These changes inf luence the tone and reactivity of the arteries, accelerate the atherog enic process and account for the vascular complications associated wit h the diseases. The widespread changes throughout the systemic circula tion associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus can alter the compliance characteristics of the arterial blood vessels. Changes in a rterial compliance can influence blood pressure, cardiac output and th e impedance to left ventricular ejection, The altered compliance chara cteristics of the blood vessels may represent a marker for early vascu lar damage that could ultimately predispose to major vascular events, In providing a more direct measure of the effects of disease on vessel wall characteristics, changes in arterial compliance may identify sub groups of patients at high risk of developing future disease-related c omplications. They may also act as a sensitive parameter to assess the effects of therapeutic interventions on arterial structure and tone.