DRUG EFFECTS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LARGE ARTERIES IN HUMANS

• Published in: Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology 2007-07, Vol.34 (7), p.688-693
• Main Authors: Hope, Sarah A, Hughes, Alun D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: arterial stiffness; Arteries - drug effects; Arteries - physiopathology; augmentation index; Biomechanical Phenomena; blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiovascular Agents - pharmacology; Cardiovascular Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Clinical Trials as Topic - methods; Compliance; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; drugs; Humans; Pulsatile Flow - drug effects; pulse wave velocity; Research Design
• ISSN: 0305-1870; 1440-1681
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2007.04661.x

SUMMARY 1 Arteries become stiffer with increasing age and various disease states. A complete description of arterial mechanical properties in vivo is not possible, although a number of methods have been used. 2 Detailed discussion in the present review is limited to pulse wave velocity and estimates of central waveform morphology derived by the application of a generalized arterial transfer function. 3 Many drugs affect these parameters, either increasing or decreasing apparent stiffness. However, the extent to which changes reflect changes in blood pressure rather than more fundamental vessel wall properties remains unclear. Similarly, it is as yet unknown whether determining the need for, or assessing the effectiveness of, drug treatment by the assessment of arterial mechanical properties will offer any advantage and the usefulness of these techniques as routine clinical tools remains to be established.