A non-invasive pulse pressure method for the estimation of total arterial compliance

With the Pulse Pressure Method (PPM; Stergiopulos et al., 1994), total arterial compliance can be estimated accurately from simultaneously measured aortic flow (Q/sub a0/) and pulse pressure (PP/sub a0/). The PPM is modified in 2 ways, yielding a non-invasive PPM (NIPPM): (i) Q/sub a0/ is replaced by a triangular flow, reconstructed from cardiac output, and is characterised by its base T/sub ej/ (systolic ejection time) and peak flow 2SV/T/sub ej/ (SV=stroke volume) at T/sub ej//3; (ii) PP/sub a0/ is estimated from a tonometric radial pressure measurement and a generalised aorta-radial pressure transfer function (TFF/sub g/). Application of the NIPPM on data from a group of hypertensive patients and young normotensive volunteers shows that (i) PP/sub a0/ is higher in the hypertensives for a same PP/sub r/ad; (ii) TAC is reduced from 2.11+/-0.51 ml/mmHg in the young volunteers to 1.13+/-0.51 ml/mmHg in the hypertensives.