Pharmacological improvement of large arteries properties.

Arterial distensibility reflects mechanical properties of the arterial wall and have, thus a clearcut clinical relevance. This because an arterial distensibility reduction is associated with an increased pulse pressure, an increased cardiac work and a reduced diastolic vital organ perfusion. In recent years it has been demonstrated that arterial distensibility is reduced in marked and mild hypercholesterolemia, in a manner independent from arterial blood pressure values.

Evaluation of arterial compliance in humans.

Compliance is a measure of the elastic properties of arterial vessels and is a function of blood pressure. In recent years new techniques have been developed which allow to measure arterial compliance non invasively and continuously over the range of existing blood pressure values. It has been thus possible to investigate the alterations of arterial compliance in a variety of diseases and to address the physiological factors involved in arterial compliance modulation.