Study on the effects of blood pressure and vasoreactivity on the parameters of arterial elasticity via cold pressor test

Abstract

Objective To investigate the interferences of the variations in the blood pressure and vasoreactivity to the parameters of arterial elasticity via cold pressor test(CPT) in healthy young men. Methods The wave intensities(WI) of the right common carotid artery(RCCA) in twenty-two healthy young men during CPT were measured by echo-tracking technique. The parameters of arterial elasticity, including stiffness parameter (β),pressure-strain etastic modulus(Ep), arlerial compliance(AC),augument index(AI) , pulse wave veloctiy-β (PWVβ),and pulse wave velocity_WI(PWV_WI) from WI analysis during CPT were recorded and statistically compared with the baseline data. Results During CPT, the heart rates increased slightly ( P <0. 05) and the mean arterial pressures increased obviously ( P <0. 05); As to the parameters of arterial elasticity, the Ep,AI, PWVβ,and PWV_WI increased obviously ( P <0. 05), AC decreased ( P <0. 05), while the (3 didn't change. Conclusions The β is affected little by the blood pressure and vasoreactivity, and can reflect the actual arterial elasticity; while the Ep, AC, AI, PWVβ, and PWV_WI are affected much by blood pressure and vasoreactivity. When the latter parameters are used to evaluate the arterial elasticity, the interferences of variations in blood pressure and vasoreactivity must be excluded. Key words: Ultrasonography; Carotid artery,common; Blood pressure; Elasticity; Echo-tracking technique