Clinical Research Papers

Tiande Li, Yinchi Liu and Bin Han of the PLA Central Hospital, Beijing, China

We used a non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (DynaPulse 5000A) and a new arterial pulse waveform analysis technology on 32 hypertensive and 25 normotensive subjects. 24 hour blood pressures, arterial compliance and peripheral resistance were obtained (analyzed by Pulse Metric, Inc. of USA). Their variations were compared with and correlated to the left ventricle (LV) weight index measured by ultrasound imaging technique. Results indicated that at matching age and sex, 24 hour averaged systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure were higher in hypertensive group than in normotensive group and is significant (p<0.001). The hypertensive group has lower arterial compliance (0.110± 0.015 vs. 0.130± 0.014, P<0.01) and higher peripheral resistance (478.61± 76.74 vs. 431.31± 58.53, P<0.05) when compare to the normotensive group. Linear correlation analysis showed that 24 hour pulse pressure and systolic had a significant negative correlation (r1 = -0.7765, P<0.001, r2 = 0.5983, P<0.001). LV weight index had good correlation to the 24 hour pulse pressure and peripheral resistance (P<0.05), and to the arterial compliance (r = -0.3441, P<0.0852).

The results of this study indicate that blood pressure increase, the changes of arterial structural and functional properties in hypertensive subjects, and the end-organ damage had direct and significant correlation, and 24 hour pulse pressure is a good indicator for it. Using non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and new arterial pulse waveform analysis for arterial blood pressure, compliance and peripheral resistance may provide us early detection and guidance for correct treatment in hypertension management.