Pulse Wave Velocity as a Measure of Blood Pressure Change |
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Authors: | Brian Gribbin Andrew Steptoe Peter Sleight |
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Affiliation: | Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford;Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University;Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford |
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Abstract: | The use of arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a continuous measure of blood pressure changes is outlined. Theoretical considerations indicate that changes in PWV reflect changes in blood pressure, and an experiment was carried out to assess this relationship. PWV along an arm artery was monitored in 26 subjects at a time when the arterial distending pressure of the limb was altered over a wide range by means of externally applied positive and negative pressures. The results show that changes in PWV reliably follow changes in blood pressure. This method can be considered suitable for studies requiring changes rather than absolute values of blood pressure. |
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Keywords: | Pulse wave velocity Blood pressure Methodology |
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