Pulse pressure and microvessels.

Pulse pressure and microvessels.

Peripheral pulse pressure, large arteries, and microvessels.

The aorta is a capacitance vessel that enables transformation of the “on-off” blood-flow characteristics of the left ventricle into a less pulsatile flow in more distal vessels. Thus, a smooth nonpulsatile blood-flow pattern is achieved at capillary level. Arterial wall stiffness determines the degree of energy absorbed by the elastic aorta and its recoil in diastole. Aortic pulse pressure (PP)...

Ageing and ankle pulse pressure.

BACKGROUND Pulse pressure (PP) is a marker of arterial stiffness. Ageing of the arterial system is accompanied by atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and atherosclerosis of popliteal artery. However, severe impairment of the brachial artery is rare. This study investigates whether there is any significant inter-limb (brachial/ankle) PP difference. METHODS Blood pressure was measured in a gro...

Pulse pressure and antihypertensive agents.

Pulse Pressure and Antihypertensive Agents To the Editor: In their subanalysis of the LIFE study,1 the authors conclude that they “show superior protection against stroke in patients treated with losartan when compared with atenolol . . . This difference may be related to specific effects of angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonism . . . beyond blood BP reduction.” The authors do not consider the...

Determinants of pulse pressure.

We have searched to define the major arterial parameters that determine aortic systolic (Ps) and diastolic (Pd) pressure in the dog. Measured aortic flows were used as input to the 2-element windkessel model of the arterial system, with peripheral resistance calculated as mean pressure divided by mean flow and total arterial compliance calculated from the decay time in diastole. The windkessel ...