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Flow-mediated slowing of brachial-radial pulse wave velocity: Methodological aspects and clinical determinants

Artery Research volume 21, pages 29–37 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Recent studies proposed that deceleration in pulse wave velocity (PWV) following reactive hyperaemia might reflect arterial distensibility and endothelial function. We therefore investigated methodological aspects and clinical determinants of new indexes of flow-mediated slowing (FMS) of PWV in a community-based sample.

Methods

In 71 subjects (mean age, 60.3 years; 50.7% women), we continuously assessed brachial-radial PWV using Vicorder® at baseline and after 3-min or 5-min suprasystolic upper-arm cuff occlusion. We calculated the relative change (Δ) in PWV per each 30 s intervals during 4 min of post-occlusion. We performed stepwise regression analyses to assess determinants of the PWV response.

Results

The peak FMS was detected at the first PWV recording obtained after occlusion. Overall, the decline in PWV during hyperaemia was significantly greater after 5-min of occlusion as compared to 3-min (effect sizes for 0–240 s intervals: −1.83% to −9.63%; P ≤ 0.037). PWV declined significantly less with higher age during the 0–60 s post-occlusion intervals (P ≤ 0.0053). On the other hand, after 120 s of post-occlusion, ΔPWV remained significantly lower in subjects with high diastolic blood pressure and oxidized LDL, and in smokers (P ≤ 0.028). Consequently, as compared to healthy reference group, participants with cardiovascular risk factors exhibited a delay in age-adjusted recovery of PWV after 5-min of occlusion (P ≤ 0.039).

Conclusions

Our findings confirm the use of a 5-min occlusion time for the assessment of vasomotor function by FMS. Whereas the early FMS response might deteriorate with ageing, cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, oxidative stress and hypertension might affect recovery of PWV after reactive hyperaemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Campus Sint Rafaël, Kapucijnenvoer 35, Block D, Box 7001, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Nicholas Cauwenberghs, Yenthel Heyrman, Lutgarde Thijs, Wen-Yi Yang, Fang-Fei Wei, Zhen-Yu Zhang, Jan A. Staessen & Tatiana Kuznetsova

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  1. Nicholas Cauwenberghs
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  2. Yenthel Heyrman
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  3. Lutgarde Thijs
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  5. Fang-Fei Wei
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  6. Zhen-Yu Zhang
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  7. Jan A. Staessen
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  8. Tatiana Kuznetsova
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Correspondence to Tatiana Kuznetsova.

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Cauwenberghs, N., Heyrman, Y., Thijs, L. et al. Flow-mediated slowing of brachial-radial pulse wave velocity: Methodological aspects and clinical determinants. Artery Res 21, 29–37 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.001

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.001

Keywords

Artery Research

ISSN: 1876-4401

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