[Arterial elasticity, arterial hypertension and antihypertensive therapy].

Semi-automated methods for pulse wave analysis enable the early diagnosis of changes in the elasticity of large and small blood vessels. Currently two methods are in routine use: a) The augmentation index and b) the compliance of the large and the small blood vessels (C1, C2). It has been shown that both measurements are able to predict cardiovascular mortality independent of other established risk factors. It remains to be shown whether antihypertensive therapy with drugs which improve compliance, in addition to lowering blood pressure, are superior to drugs which only lower blood pressure without affecting compliance. An increase of pulse pressure represents a later stage in the development of atherosclerosis and is therefore less sensitive than the above named elasticity measurements. Changes in elasticity occur very early in the development of atherosclerosis therefore these methods should prove very useful in preventive medicine. It is to be hoped that these methods will be increasingly used for detecting incipient atherosclerosis.