Pulse wave velocity and its diagnostic value in cardiovascular diseases. Literature review and results of own observations

Over the past decade, in connection with the continuous increase of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, attention of scientists was tied down to the early reveal of vascular lesions and search for new biomarkers. Generally known, that an adequate hemodynamics is determined by damping properties of the great vessels, therefore their viscoelasticity properties are of particular interest. It is important to identify the changes in the arteries’ structure prior to onset of clinical symptoms of vascular disease. The measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) is one of main investigational methods for arteries’ properties; based on experts’ data it serves as an independent predictor of cardiovascular complications. The methods of estimation of elasticity or stiffness of arteries wall acquire all greater popularity, so as they allow to estimate not only structure but function of vessels. For the estimation of the structural‑functional state of major vessels, direct visualizing (USI, МRT) and indirect technique (contour analysis of pulse wave, plethysmography, sphygmography etc.) are used. In clinical and outpatient practice, the most popular are non‑invasive, affordable and easily reproducible techniques. The authors presented methods for determining the increased local and regional stiffness of the arterial wall using such devices as Complior, SphygmoCor, PulsePen, PolySpectr SPV, VaSera‑1000 and other. However, a demand exists today for novel methods for estimation of vascular stiffness. To simplify and improve the determination of the pulse wave velocity, the authors have proposed a method based on photoplethysmography and elucidated the main advantages and shortcomings, reveled during investigation. The aim of this publication was to inform the physicians about the importance of researches of arterial wall stiffness, the most widespread and demanded in clinical practice methods of its determination, about conditions, where vascular stiffness should be assessed, the existing limitations, as well as issues, still unsolved in this area.