Vascular compliance in hypertension

Pulse contour analysis was used to determine systemic arterial vascular compliance in hypertensive (HT) and normotensive (NT) subjects. In seven hypertensives aged 43-58 yrs (mean age 52.1 ± 5.5 yrs) and seven normotensives aged 33-59 yrs (mean age 43.7 ± 9.9 yrs) both large artery (C1) and distal arterial (C2) compliance were determined from a peripheral arterial pressure waveform and cardiac output. Age differences were not statistically significant. Mean arterial pressure was 29% higher in HT (p < 0.001). Cardiac output was 12% higher and heart rate was 6% lower in HT, but these differences were not significant. Systemic vascular resistance was 17% higher in HT (NS), while proximal and distal arterial compliance were 15% and 70% lower, respectively, in HT compared to NT. Only the difference in C2 was significant (p < 0.02). Thus, distal vascular compliance may be a clinically useful parameter for evaluating hypertensive subjects before and during therapeutic intervention.