Hypertension Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hypertension, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Central blood pressures: do we need them in the management of cardiovascular disease? Is it a feasible therapeutic target?

Protogerou AD, Papaioannou TG, Blacher J, Papamichael CM, Lekakis JP, Safar ME

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Center, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France.

It is well established that in young and healthy individuals central (aortic or carotid) systolic and pulse pressures are different from peripheral (brachial) corresponding pressures as a consequence of progressive changes in arterial stiffness and pressure wave reflections along the arterial tree. There is evidence indicating that in interventions with pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical agents, central pressures are subjected to greater changes than peripheral pressures, and they are more closely related to the pathophysiology of end-organ damage or cardiovascular risk. Therefore central blood pressures may be of higher clinical importance than peripheral pressures. The present review aims to provide an insight into the (patho)physiology of central blood pressures, to present the most accurate techniques for their estimation, and to discuss the available experimental and epidemiological data that support the emerging need for the evaluation of central blood pressures in clinical practice.

Published 9 January 2007 in J Hypertens, 25(2): 265-72.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Hypertension Research Today. All Rights Reserved.