Assessment of endothelial function by means of flow-mediated changes using pulse wave velocity.

Endothelial dysfunction is a leading cause of early development of cardiovascular diseases. Endothelial function can be assessed using ultrasound methods to watch the arterial flow-mediated dilation. It is also possible to find changes in pulse wave velocity (PWV) after induced ischemia related to the vessel diameter changes.

Continuous improvement of arterial compliance beyond blood pressure decrease after 5 years of antihypertensive treatment.

Pulse wave velocity is a reliable marker of arterial compliance. Stiffness of large and elastic arteries leads to a faster propagation of pulse wave. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in arterial distensibility using antihypertensive drugs.

[Pulse wave velocity and urinary albumin excretion in hypertensive patients treated with perindopril].

Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) have been recognized as predictors for cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, arterial compliance (AC) disorders assessed by increased aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) are closely related to changes in blood pressure and strongly correlated with cardiovascular mortality and presence or extent of atherosclerosis. Our purpose in the present study was to determine a relationship between AC using PWV and UAE in a group of non-smoking patients with essential hypertension, and the level of interaction of ACE inhibition on these two variables.

Dimensions of the left ventricle, atrium, and aortic root in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Chronic hypertension induces changes in the structure of the left ventricle, atrium, and aortic root. However, the effects of transient hypertension are unclear. Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) offers a natural and spontaneous model of this condition.

Left ventricular geometry in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

The changes induced by transient hypertension upon cardiac geometry (G) are unclear. Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) offers a natural and spontaneous model of this condition. To assess geometric changes according to two-dimensionally guided M-mode echocardiography, we compared patients with PIH with normal pregnant women (NPW).

Effect of left and right lateral decubitus positions on Doppler mitral flow patterns in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Patients with severe congestive heart failure (SCHF) complain of increasing dyspnea when adopting left lateral decubitus (LLD) position that improves when turning over to the right lateral decubitus (RLD) position (trepopnea). We hypothesize that this clinical sign is due to changes in left ventricular (LV) preload and such changes would modify mitral flow. This study analyzes the effect of RLD and LLD positions on LV filling pattern assessed by Doppler echocardiography in patients with SCHF.