Blood pressure variability — regular and irregular waves

Abstract

The review presents data on regular and irregular waves of blood pressure (BP) recorded during its invasive (intra-arterial) and non-invasive registration. Regular pulse waves, Traube-Hering waves (second-order waves) and Mayer waves (third-order waves) are described. The characteristic of circadian and ultradian super slow waves is given. The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the origin of regular waves of BP and their relationship with the magnitude of the baroreceptor reflex are shown. Attention is drawn to the role of changes in the minute volume of blood circulation and peripheral resistance to blood flow in the occurrence of fluctuations in BP. We also review the methods and features of BP registration, which enable identification and analysis of irregular high-frequency fluctuations in BP, the relationship of these fluctuations with the magnitude of the baroreceptor reflex and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The data on the amplitude of high-frequency irregular fluctuations in BP in animals with simulated hypertension are presented. The review draws attention to the possibility of recording regular fluctuations in BP during its constant non-invasive registration.