Arterial Stiffness and Endothelial Function Practice

Vocabulary flashcards covering arterial stiffness, Pulse Wave Velocity, Augmentation Index, and their clinical outcomes based on lecture data.

MAP

Mean arterial pressure; as it increases, so does the strain on the structural elements of the aorta.

Vascular smooth muscle

A structural element of the aorta affected by changes in mean arterial pressure.

Relationship between MAP and Arterial Stiffness

It is important to take mean arterial pressure into account when comparing two groups because increases in MAP increase strain on structural elements.

PWV

Pulse Wave Velocity; a measurement of arterial stiffness typically expressed in units of $\text{m/s}$.

AIx

Augmentation Index; a measure of arterial stiffness expressed as a percentage ($\%$) or pressure ($\text{mmHg}$) that increases with age according to McEniery et al. (2005).

Albuterol (Salb) and NTG response

Used to assess endothelial function and its relationship to Pulse Wave Velocity ($\text{PWV}$).

LNMMA

A substance used in studies to demonstrate the relationship between nitric oxide and iliac Pulse Wave Velocity ($\text{PWV}$).

Pressure Wave Amplification

The phenomenon where pressure levels change as the wave moves from the ascending aorta ($100\,\text{mmHg}$) toward the femoral artery ($150\,\text{mmHg}$).

Age and PWV/AIx Relationship

According to McEniery et al. (2005), both Pulse Wave Velocity and Augmentation Index show a progressive increase from age $10$ to $90$ years.

PWV Survival Thresholds (Blacher et al. 1999)

A study identifying survival probability categories based on values of $\text{PWV} < 9.4\,\text{m/s}$, $9.4 \leq \text{PWV} \leq 12.0\,\text{m/s}$, and $\text{PWV} > 12.0\,\text{m/s}$.

IFG and IGT

Impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance; conditions associated with reduced survival and increased Pulse Wave Velocity ($\text{PWV}$) compared to normoglycaemia.

ESRD

End stage renal disease; a patient type identified in longitudinal studies (e.g., Blacher 1999, Shoji 2001) where aortic PWV is an independent predictor of CV mortality.

CHD

Coronary heart disease; events of which can be predicted by aortic Pulse Wave Velocity according to studies like Boutouyrie (2002).