Article
Determination of vascular age: Pulse wave velocity and augmentation index
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Published: | December 18, 2006 |
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Pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a marker for arterial stiffness and augmentation index (AIx) as a measure of arterial wave reflection are both increasing with age. PWV and AIx are widely accepted to represent the age and the status of stiffness of the arterial tree wall. Correlations of PWV to cardiovascular risk factors are known among others to age, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary heart disease. PWV itself is proven to be a powerful cardiovascular risk factor in predicting mortality in the elderly, in patients with end-stage renal failure, with diabetes and in hypertensives.
Augmentation index serves as an indirect marker of arterial stiffness and a direct marker for wave reflection. AIx itself is proven to be a powerful cardiovascular risk factor. In patients with end-stage renal failure, augmentation index also is an independent predictor of mortality. Augmentation correlates with left ventricular mass in hypertensives and in normotensive young men. AIx is as an independent risk marker for premature coronary artery disease in men younger than 60 years.
PWV and AIx are increasing with age, but not giving the same information about the arterial function. Determination of both PWV and AIx gives a broad information concerning the age and the condition of the arterial tree wall. The prognostic value of arterial stiffness is high and increasingly in the focus of research.
After the session follows a practical demonstration of measurement of augmentation and pulse wave velocity with the arteriograph.