Changes of Pulse Wave Velocity in the lower limbs in hypertensive patients

Increased arterial stiffness is connected with vascular aging and cardiovascular diseases. Arterial stiffness correlates to Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) which can be measured by the bioimpedance method. The bioimpedance plethysmographic signal was measured by a non-invasive Multichannel Bioimpedance Monitor and the PWV in the thigh and calf was calculated. Protocol: 2-minutes in the horizontal position, 5-minutes head-up tilt test (70°). Subjects: 25 healthy (14 women and 11 men) non-smoking volunteers and 24 patients treated for hypertension (12 women and 12 men). The PWV values during diferent positions for the right and lefl leg of the subject were evaluated and averaged. The relative PWVr=PWV_tiIt / PWV_horizontal was calculated. The unpaired t-test to evaluate the significance of diferences between groups was used. There were no significant diferences in the basic parameters (age, height, weight) of the healthy group versus the patient group. The significant diference was in the PWVr parameter (p<;0.05): 1.27±0.17 for the healthy group and 1.17±0.15 for the patient group. A decrease in the PWVr in the patient group treated for hypertension was statistically significant in comparison with the healthy group with similar values of blood pressure, weight and height. This result reflects the diferent reaction of the vascular system to the tilt test in the patient group.