Effect of reactive hyperemia on carotid-radial pulse wave velocity in hypertensive participants and direct comparison with flow-mediated dilation: A pilot study

This pilot study assessed the effects of hyperemia on carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 39 normotensive (NT) and 23 hypertensive (HT) participants using applanation tonometry. Pulse wave velocity was measured at 1- and at 2-minute intervals. Baseline PWV was similar between the groups (P =.59). At 1 minute, PWV decreased (8.5 ± 1.2 to 7.1 ± 1.4 m/s, P <.001) in NT but not in HT (P =.83). Hyperemic PWV (δPWV) response differed between the groups (-16% vs + 1.0%, P <.001). On multivariate analysis, HT, not age or blood pressure was independently related to δPWV (R² =.43, P <.01). Among patients with cardiovascular risk factors/disease, δPWV was inversely related to flow-mediated dilation (FMD; R² =.43, P <.003). Conclusion: hyperemia decreases PWV _1min in NT but not in HT. δPWV is inversely related to FMD. Blunted hyperemic PWV response may represent impaired vasodilatory reserve.