A non-invasive pulse pressure method for the estimation of total arterial compliance

With the Pulse Pressure Method (PPM; Stergiopulos et al., 1994), total arterial compliance can be estimated accurately from simultaneously measured aortic flow (Q_a0) and pulse pressure (PP_a0). The PPM is modified in 2 ways, yielding a non-invasive PPM (NIPPM): (i) Q_a0 is replaced by a triangular flow, reconstructed from cardiac output, and is characterised by its base T_ej (systolic ejection time) and peak flow 2SV/T_ej (SV=stroke volume) at T_ej/3; (ii) PP_a0 is estimated from a tonometric radial pressure measurement and a generalised aorta-radial pressure transfer function (TFF_g). Application of the NIPPM on data from a group of hypertensive patients and young normotensive volunteers shows that (i) PP_a0 is higher in the hypertensives for a same PP_rad; (ii) TAC is reduced from 2.11+/-0.51 ml/mmHg in the young volunteers to 1.13+/-0.51 ml/mmHg in the hypertensives