No abstract

The pulse wave velocity (PWV) threshold for hypertensive target organ damage is presently set at 10 meters per second. New 24-hour monitors (eg, BPLab® and Vasotens®) provide several PWV measurements over a period of 24–72 hours. A new parameter, ie, the Pulse Time Index of Norm (PTIN), can be calculated from these data. The PTIN is defined as the percentage of a 24-hour period during which the PWV does not exceed 10 meters per second. The aim of the present study was to test the new PTIN for clinical feasibility using day-to-day repeatability analysis. Oscillometrically generated waveform files (n=85), which were previously used for research studies, were reanalyzed using the new 2013 version software of the Vasotens technology program, which enables calculation of PTIN. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 and Cronbach’s alpha was 0.97, indicating that the PTIN has excellent day-to-day repeatability and internal consistency. The present results show adequate repeatability, and PTIN assessment using the Vasotens technology appears to be feasible.

The purpose of this study was to examine the pulse wave velocity, aortic augmentation index corrected for heart rate 75 (AIx@75), and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure during 24-hour monitoring in normotensive volunteers. Overall, 467 subjects (206 men and 261 women) were recruited in this study. Participants were excluded from the study if they were less than 19 years of age, had blood test abnormalities, had a body mass index greater than 2 7.5 kg/m2, had impaired glucose tolerance, or had hypotension or hypertension. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) with the BPLab® device was performed in each subject. ABPM waveforms were analyzed using the special automatic Vasotens® algorithm, which allows the calculation of pulse wave velocity, AIx@75, central systolic and diastolic blood pressure for “24-hour”, “awake”, and “asleep” periods. Circadian rhythms and sex differences in these indexes were identified. Pending further validation in prospective outcome-based studies, our data may be used as preliminary diagnostic values for the BPLab ABPM additional index in adult subjects.

Background. To assess structural and functional status of the arteries in young and middle-aged men with recently developed CAD. Methods and Results. A total of 78 men aged 28 to 50 years underwent carotid ultrasound, endothelial function, and arterial stiffness measurements. Angiographically proven CAD was present in 49 patients. Carotid plaques were present in 45 (91.8%) patients with CAD and in 8 (27.6%) men without CAD (P < 0.001). Patients with CAD more often had multiple plaques (86.7% versus 13.8%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) ≥0.9 mm and of abnormal brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was not differing in both groups. The mean aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was 6.8 ± 1.3 m/s for patients with CAD and 5.8 ± 0.9 m/s for subjects without CAD (P < 0.001). Aortic PWV above the 75th percentile of the “normal” samples was found in 26 (53.1%) patients with CAD and in 7 (24.1%) subjects without CAD (P = 0.02). Aortic PWV was related to the severity of CAD. Conclusions. Carotid plaques and increased aortic PWV may be more powerful predictors of the occurrence of CAD in young and middle-aged men, than the presence of increased carotid IMT and abnormal brachial artery FMD.

BackgroundArterial stiffness, as measured by the pulse wave velocity (PWV), is recommended for routine use in clinical practice as an important parameter for the evaluation of cardiovascular risk.1 New 24-hour monitors (eg, with Vasotens® technology; Petr Telegin Company, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation) provide single PWV measurements as well as several PWV measurements over a period of 24 hours.2 Such 24-hour pulse wave analysis led to the development of the novel Pulse Time Index of Norm (PTIN), which is defined as the percentage of a 24-hour period during which the PWV does not exceed the 10 m/second PWV threshold. The aim of this study is to test the new PTIN for correlation with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI).MethodsOscillometrically generated waveform files (n=137) used for clinical research studies were reanalyzed using the new 2013 version of the Vasotens technology program, which enables PTIN calculations.ResultsA good correlation (r=−0.72) between the PTIN and the LVMI was shown, which was significantly above the blood pressure load (r=0.41).ConclusionThe PTIN generated by the Vasotens technology can be recommended as an indicator of end organ damage via hypertension.