Is increased arterial stiffness a cause or consequence of atherosclerosis?

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Laura Hansen, Emory University; W Robert Taylor, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-04-20
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.04.014
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Atherosclerosis
• ISSN: 0021-9150
• Volume: 249
• Start Page: 226
• End Page: 227
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported in part by NHLBI F32HL 124974 (L.H.)
• Keywords: Peripheral Vascular Disease; DISEASE; Science & Technology; ROTTERDAM; CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS; BLOOD-PRESSURE; RISK; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Decreased vascular compliance of the large arteries manifests as increased arterial pulse pressure with both higher systolic pressures and lower diastolic pressures without a significant change in mean pressure. The clinical consequences of higher systolic pressure include an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Our understanding of changes in vascular mechanics and its effect on blood pressure has grown as technology has improved our ability to quantify vascular stiffness in man.