RISE IN SYSTOLIC BLOOD-PRESSURE DURING SPHYGMOMANOMETRY DEPENDS ON THE MAXIMUM INFLATION PRESSURE OF THE ARM CUFF

Objective: Sphygmomanometric recordings of blood pressure are a standa rd technique in clinical practice. We investigated whether arm-cuff in flation can induce short-term blood pressure changes ('cuff-inflation hypertension'), limiting the generalizability of recordings. Methods: Progress in biomedical methodology makes it feasible to monitor blood pressure continuously and non-invasively at the finger artery (the Pen az method). Seventy-two normotensive subjects were randomly assigned e ither to a series of sphygmomanometric recordings in which a maximum c uff pressure of 300 mmHg was applied, to a series in which the maximum cuff pressure was 175 mmHg or to a control group in whom no sphygmoma nometric recordings were made. Results: The subjects exposed to arm-cu ff inflations perceived the cuff inflation pressure, but their percept ion could not differentiate between the two maximum cuff pressures. Fu rthermore, increases in systolic blood pressure during the inflation p eriod were recorded when a maximum cuff pressure of 300 mmHg was appli ed. The effects on diastolic blood pressure were not significant. Conc lusions: The maximum arm-cuff pressure during sphygmomanometry should be not too far above the pressure needed to occlude the brachial arter y. A high maximum arm-cuff pressure increases the chances of inducing 'cuff-inflation hypertension'.