Artery Research

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Volume 3, Issue 4, December 2009, Pages 155 - 155

5.2 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LARGE ARTERY STIFFNESS, WAVE REFLECTION AND PULSATILITY IN THE MICRO-CIRCULATION: NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF BOTH HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES

Authors
B.J. McDonnell1, J. Coulson2, M. Munnery2, N.S. Gale2, K. Mortlock2, I. Munnery2, I.B. Wilkinson3, C.M. McEniery3, J.R. Cockcroft2
1Cardiff School of Health Sciences, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff, United Kingdom
2Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
3Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Available Online 3 December 2009.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2009.10.160How to use a DOI?
Abstract

Background: Increased arterial stiffness is associated with a reduced buffering capacity of the large arteries, therefore predisposing the microcirculation to increased flow and pressure pulsatility. However, increased wave reflection may be protective, by reducing the amount of pulsatility transmitted to the microcirculation. The aim of this study was to examine this hypothesis by exploring the relationship between large artery stiffness, wave reflections and pulsatility in the microvasculature.

Methods: 38 volunteers, aged 63±10 years, not taking any sympathomimetic compounds and free from any acute ocular symptoms participated. Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were recorded using the SphygmoCor system as measures of large artery stiffness and wave reflection, respectively. Retinal artery resistance index (RI), a measure of early retinal organ damage and pulsatility ratio (PR), a measure of retinal artery pulsatility were recorded using doppler ultrasound (Aloca).

Results: aPWV was significantly associated with RI (r=0.55,P=0.001) and PR (r=0.66,P=<0.001) whereas AIx was significantly and inversely related to RI (r= −0.37,P=0.03) and PR (r= −0.425, P=0.01, respectively). Stratifying individuals according to tertile of aPWV and AIx revealed that RI and PR were significantly higher in those individuals with high aPWV but low AIx, compared with individuals with low aPWV and high AIx (0.58±0.10 vs 0.41±0.09, p=0.001,RI; and 2.5±0.57 vs 1.7±0.30; p=0.006, PR).

Conclusions: Increased large artery stiffness is implicated in microcirculatory damage. However, increased wave reflections may exert a protective effect. Future mechanistic studies linking the macro and micro-circulations may provide important insights into the management of conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

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This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
3 - 4
Pages
155 - 155
Publication Date
2009/12/03
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2009.10.160How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - B.J. McDonnell
AU  - J. Coulson
AU  - M. Munnery
AU  - N.S. Gale
AU  - K. Mortlock
AU  - I. Munnery
AU  - I.B. Wilkinson
AU  - C.M. McEniery
AU  - J.R. Cockcroft
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2009/12/03
TI  - 5.2 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LARGE ARTERY STIFFNESS, WAVE REFLECTION AND PULSATILITY IN THE MICRO-CIRCULATION: NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF BOTH HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 155
EP  - 155
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2009.10.160
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2009.10.160
ID  - McDonnell2009
ER  -