Arterial distensibility and pulse pressure. Measurements and clinical significance in hypertension

Distensibility of large and middle size arteries is a function of major sig nificance for the cardiovascular system. This paper will describe data obta ined by measurements of local distensibility in hypertension and other card iovascular diseases. Isolated systolic hypertension is characterized by a d iffuse reduction of arterial distensibility, while essential hypertension b y a reduced distensibility in large elastic arteries, but an unchanged dist ensibility of middle size arteries. Other conditions associated with a mark ed reduction of arterial mechanical functions are familial hypercholesterol emia, the association of mild hypertension and mild hypercholesterolemia, c ongestive heart failure and type 1 diabetes mellitus. In most of these cond itions, however, appropriate therapy is able to reverse the deranged arteri al distensibility. Finally, epidemiological data suggest that it is justifi ed to focus on pulse pressure, i.e. on an indirect indicator of a reduced a rterial distensibility, when assessing the overall cardiovascular risk.