NONINVASIVE PULSE-WAVE ANALYSIS FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF VASCULAR-DISEASE

A noninvasive technique has been developed and validated for calculati ng capacitive and oscillatory systemic arterial compliance with the us e of pulse wave analysis and a modified Windkessel model. Application of the technique to subjects with hypertension, postmenopausal women w ith symptomatic coronary artery disease, and appropriate control subje cts has confirmed a reduction of oscillatory compliance in the disease states and an increase in capacitive and oscillatory compliances in r esponse to vasodilator drugs. This method should be useful in screenin g subjects for early evidence of vascular disease and in monitoring th e response to therapy.