Arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis in essential hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile.

Background: Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and appears to be increased in arterial hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to relate systemic arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis to variables of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: Seventy-two subjects with untreated mild to moderate arterial hypertension underwent evaluation with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness could predict the presence of coronary artery lesions.

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether intima-media thickness (IMT) predicts the presence of the coronary artery lesions independent of other risk factors including clinic blood pressure (BP), parameters of 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, body mass index, serum cholesterol, and glucose levels. The study population consisted of 390 consecutive subjects who had recently undergone coronary arteriography; 51 subjects with no measurable lesions in their coronary arteries (control group) and 339 subjects with coronary artery lesions (coronary artery disease [CAD] group). Mean IMT of the common carotid artery (MCCA) and internal carotid artery (MICA) were significantly higher in subjects with CAD compare control subjects (P < .

Cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile and arterial stiffness.

Background: In subjects with essential hypertension peripheral blood pressure profile contributes to the pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy. It is not known if central arterial pressure is superior to peripheral blood pressure profile for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy. In the present study 24-h blood pressure profile and central hemodynamics were examined to evaluate mechanical loading factors as determinants of cardiac hypertrophy in mild to moderate untreated essential hypertension.

White-coat effect in normotension and hypertension.

Objectives: The difference between clinic and daytime ambulatory blood pressure is referred to as the white-coat effect. In this study, we investigated (i) the magnitude of the white-coat effect in subjects with different daytime ambulatory blood pressure levels, and (ii) the association of the white-coat effect with left ventricular mass.

Methods: A total of 1581 subjects underwent clinic blood pressure readings, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and left ventricular echocardiographic assessment.