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Rediscovering the Arteries

Early reviews such as (Michel E Safar et al. 1998) first identified the need to consider that the arteries play an active role in blood pressure determination, rather than acting as passive conduits.

John R Cockcroft & Ian B Wilkinson (2002) concluded that assessing arterial stiffness would make a major contribution to managing cardiovascular disease.   Directions for future therapeutic trials were discussed by Laurent et al. (2002).  Techniques for measurement of arterial stiffness were discussed by Mackenzie et al. (2002).

Oliver & Webb (2003) further reviewed various arterial stiffness measurement techniques, their applicability and relation to cardiovascular drugs. A review of one particular technique was presented by Davies & Struthers (2003).  Michel E. Safar et al. (2003) gave an updated perspective, in the light of the literature at that time, on the arterial system and cardiovascular risk.

Hypertension as an Arterial Syndrome

The association between isolated systolic hypertension and arterial stiffness was presented by (Izzo 2004).  Kass (2005) reviewed the coupling between arterial stiffness and ventricular function, a subject which was further elaborated upon by Nichols (2005).  A review of the mechanisms, pathophysiology and therapy was undertaken by Zieman et al. (2005).

These developments led to the release of an expert consensus document (Laurent et al. 2006) on methods and applications of arterial stiffness. Hirata et al. (2006) summarized the evidence for arterial stiffness measurement.  Likewise, Cohn (2007) discussed the potential benefit for hypertension treatment based on arterial stiffness measures.

Michael F O'Rourke & Hashimoto (2008) published a historical review of arterial stiffness literature and Franklin (2008) considered arterial stiffness as a new biomarker of cardiovascular disease.

Treating Arteries to Manage Cardiovascular Risk

A. P. Avolio et al. (2009) summarized the differentiation between central and peripheral blood pressure and Nilsson et al. (2009) suggested the management of cardiovascular risk based on vascular age. 

The use of a cuff blood pressure monitor along with peripheral pulse wave analysis was described by Alberto P Avolio et al. (2010) as the future of blood pressure management.  This was complemented by a meta-analysisof central blood pressure data for cardiovascular risk prediction by C. Vlachopoulos et al. (2010).

References

1. Avolio, A.P. et al., 2009. Role of Pulse Pressure Amplification in Arterial Hypertension: Experts' Opinion and Review of the Data. Hypertension, 54(2), 375-383.
2. Avolio, A.P., Butlin, M. & Walsh, A., 2010. Arterial blood pressure measurement and pulse wave analysis-–their role in enhancing cardiovascular assessment. Physiological Measurement, 31(1), R1-R47.
3. Cockcroft, J.R. & Wilkinson, I.B., 2002. Arterial stiffness and pulse contour analysis: an age old concept revisited. Clinical Science (London, England: 1979), 103(4), 379-380.
4. Cohn, J.N., 2007. Is it the blood pressure or the blood vessel? Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 1(1), 5-16.
5. Davies, J.I. & Struthers, A.D., 2003. Pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity: a critical review of their strengths and weaknesses. Journal of Hypertension, 21(3), 463-472.
6. Franklin, S., 2008. Beyond blood pressure: Arterial stiffness as a new biomarker of cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 2(3), 140-151.
7. Hirata, K., Kawakami, M. & O'Rourke, M.F., 2006. Pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity: a review of blood pressure interpretation 100 years after Korotkov. Circulation Journal: Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society, 70(10), 1231-1239.
8. Izzo, J.L., 2004. Arterial stiffness and the systolic hypertension syndrome. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 19(4), 341-352.
9. Kass, D.A., 2005. Ventricular Arterial Stiffening: Integrating the Pathophysiology. Hypertension, 46(1), 185-193.
10. Laurent, S. et al., 2006. Expert consensus document on arterial stiffness: methodological issues and clinical applications. Eur Heart J, 27(21), 2588-2605.
11. Laurent, S. et al., 2002. Clinical applications of arterial stiffness: therapeutics and pharmacology[ast]. Am J Hypertens, 15(5), 453-458.
12. Mackenzie, I., Wilkinson, I. & Cockcroft, J., 2002. Assessment of arterial stiffness in clinical practice. QJM, 95(2), 67-74.
13. Nichols, W.W., 2005. Clinical measurement of arterial stiffness obtained from noninvasive pressure waveforms. American Journal of Hypertension, 18, 3-10.
14. Nilsson, P.M., Boutouyrie, P. & Laurent, S., 2009. Vascular Aging: A Tale of EVA and ADAM in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and Prevention. Hypertension, 54(1), 3-10.
15. Oliver, J.J. & Webb, D.J., 2003. Noninvasive Assessment of Arterial Stiffness and Risk of Atherosclerotic Events. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 23(4), 554-566.
16. O'Rourke, M.F. & Hashimoto, J., 2008. Arterial stiffness: a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor? Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 28(4), 225-237.
17. O'Rourke, M.F. & Hashimoto, J., 2007. Mechanical Factors in Arterial Aging: A Clinical Perspective. J Am Coll Cardiol, 50(1), 1-13.
18. Safar, M.E. et al., 1998. Recent Advances on Large Arteries in Hypertension. Hypertension, 32(1), 156-161.
19. Safar, M.E., Levy, B.I. & Struijker-Boudier, H., 2003. Current Perspectives on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Pressure in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases. Circulation, 107(22), 2864-2869.
20. Vlachopoulos, C. et al., 2010. Prediction of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with central haemodynamics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Heart Journal, 31(15), 1865-1871.
21. Zieman, S.J., Melenovsky, V. & Kass, D.A., 2005. Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Therapy of Arterial Stiffness. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 25(5), 932-943.