Determination of Arterial Stiffness

Gold Standard Procedure

International scientific societies recommend the assessment of central aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (aPWV) by recording of pulse waves at the carotid and femoral arteries. The resulting PWVcf, defined as the ratio of pulse wave transit time and distance between these two vessels, represents the undisputed Gold Standard in determining Arterial Stiffness[1].

  • Strongest Predictor of Severe Cardiovascular Events

    Highly associated to the presence and degree of atherosclerosis, PWVcf documents changes in aortic elasticity better than any other readily available parameter. Called “the probably strongest independent predictor of cardio-vascular events” by the American Heart Association[2], PWVcf can be used as a direct indicator of end organ damage, found in a variety of diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or chronic kidney disease.

    As an example, the predictive power of Pulse Wave Velocity becomes strikingly evident in chronic kidney disease: A rise in PWVcf of 1 m/s will increase the mortality risk by almost 40%[3].

    The independence from other cardio-vascular risk parameters enhances the predictive value of PWVcf in comparison to traditional scores, improving the assessment of individual patient risk[4]. A PWVcf increase can also be associated with enhanced vascular ageing, induced by an inadequate life style, mostly related to inactivity and obesity. Implemented into daily clinical practice, patients will profit from PWVcf testing by better risk stratification and therapy management.

  • Literature

    1 Laurent S. et al. Central aortic blood pressure. Elsevier, 2008

    2 Urbina, EM et al. Noninvasive Assessment of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Children and Adolescents. Recommendations for Standard Assessment for Clinical Research. Hypertension 2009.

    3 Blacher J et al. Impact of Aortic Stiffness on Survival in End-Stage Renal Disease. Circulation 1999

    4 Vlachopoulos C et al. Prediction of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality With Arterial Stiffness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2010