Dynamics of arterial stiffness indicators during antihypertensive therapy

Many studies demonstrate the role of increased arterial stiffness in predicting cardiovascular events. Objective. To study the connection of cardio-ankle vascular index and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity with each other and with blood pressure level dynamics in patients with arterial hypertension against the background of antihypertensive therapy. Materials and Methods. The study involved 32 patients (20 men and 12 women). Sphygmomanometry was performed using VaSera 1500N (Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd., Japan) and BPLab Angio (Petr Telegin LLC, Russia) sphygmomanometers. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and peripheral and central arterial blood pressure (ABP) parameters were registered. Sphygmography was performed twice with an interval of 6±1.7 days after the prescription of antihypertensive therapy. Results. The therapy resulted in reduced ABP. The CAVI value has not changed (p=0.566). The cfPWV decreased from 8.8 (8.1; 10.0) to 8.4 (7.7; 9.7) m/s (p=0.012). Regression models demonstrated no connection between CAVI and ABP changes but revealed highly significant connections between the cfPWV and ABP changes. Calculated cfPWV reduction was 0.55 m/s with a decrease in aortic mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 10 mm Hg and 0.65 m/s with a decrease in brachial artery MAP by 10 mm Hg. Linear regression equations for the relationship between CAVI and cfPWV were calculated. The evaluation of the dynamics of arterial stiffness in a short time interval does not allow one to judge the long-term effects of therapy. Conclusion. The therapy reduces the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity while the cardio-ankle vascular index remains unchanged. We established a connection between the brachial artery and aortic mean arterial pressure reduction and the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity reduction. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity reduced to 0.55 m/s with a decrease in aortic MAP by 10 mm Hg and 0.65 m/s with a decrease in brachial artery MAP by 10 mm Hg.