Artery Research

Volume 3, Issue 2, June 2009, Pages 56 - 64

Arterial stiffness and wave reflection: Biomarkers of cardiovascular risk

Authors
Gary F. Mitchell*
Cardiovascular Engineering, Inc., 1 Edgewater Drive, Suite 201A, Norwood, MA 02062, USA
*Tel.: +1 781 255 6930; fax: +1 781 255 6931. E-mail address: garyfmitchell@mindspring.com
Corresponding Author
Gary F. Mitchell
Received 21 January 2009, Accepted 13 February 2009, Available Online 18 March 2009.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2009.02.002How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Arterial stiffness; Aorta; Pulse pressure; Pulse wave velocity; Wave reflection
Abstract

Arterial stiffness and excessive pressure pulsatility have emerged as important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness increases with age and in the presence of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and lipid disorders. Pathologic stiffening of large arteries with advancing age and risk factor exposure predominantly involves the elastic aorta and carotid arteries, whereas stiffness changes are relatively limited in muscular arteries. Aortic stiffening is associated with increased pulse wave velocity and pulse pressure, which are related but distinct measures of the pulsatile energy content of the pressure waveform. A dramatic increase in pulsatile energy content of pressure and flow waves in the arterial system places considerable pulsatile stress on the heart, large arteries and distal circulation. Large artery stiffening is associated with abnormalities in microvascular structure and function that may contribute to tissue damage, particularly in susceptible high flow organs such as the brain and kidneys. This brief review summarizes results of recent research on risk factors for and adverse effects of large artery stiffening.

Copyright
© 2009 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
3 - 2
Pages
56 - 64
Publication Date
2009/03/18
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2009.02.002How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2009 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Gary F. Mitchell
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2009/03/18
TI  - Arterial stiffness and wave reflection: Biomarkers of cardiovascular risk
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 56
EP  - 64
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2009.02.002
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2009.02.002
ID  - Mitchell2009
ER  -