Effect of reactive hyperemia on carotid-radial pulse wave velocity in hypertensive participants and direct comparison with flow-mediated dilation: a pilot study.

UNLABELLED: This pilot study assessed the effects of hyperemia on carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 39 normotensive (NT) and 23 hypertensive (HT) participants using applanation tonometry. Pulse wave velocity was measured at 1- and at 2-minute intervals. Baseline PWV was similar between the groups (P = .59). At 1 minute, PWV decreased (8.5 +/- 1.2 to 7.1 +/- 1.4 m/s, P < .001) in NT but not in HT (P = .83). Hyperemic PWV (DeltaPWV) response differed between the groups (-16% vs + 1.0%, P < .001). On multivariate analysis, HT, not age or blood pressure was independently related to DeltaPWV (R(2) = .43, P < .01). Among patients with cardiovascular risk factors/disease, DeltaPWV was inversely related to flow-mediated dilation (FMD; R( 2) = .43, P < .003).
CONCLUSION: hyperemia decreases PWV(1min) in NT but not in HT. DeltaPWV is inversely related to FMD. Blunted hyperemic PWV response may represent impaired vasodilatory reserve.