As we know,the pulse propagates in wave form and the velocity of wave propagation depends on the propagation medium features. So,Is it possible to use the measurment of velocity of pulse propagation in the body to diagnose cardiovascular problems such as hypertension and hypotension?
The question is very interesting; the medium of distribution is blood, and the characteristics of the arteries and veins on which it spreads certainly affect this.
Yes, it can be done but sensitivity and specificity may not be high. The wave form propagation along the vessel wall, and the blood flow, need to be analysed by two separate mechanisms. The results need to be computed to provide the insight into Cardiac output and peripheral resistance, thereby providing the information about the status of the vessels and blood pressure/ cardiac output.
Pulse propagation is in relation to vascular stiffness and may be usefull for diagnostic information. On the other hand peripheral vascular doppler flowmetry may provide additional diagnostic information by differant flow waveform modalities in such cases (shock, tamponide, Aortic dissection and etc,)
We have just finished a study that clinically tested an algorithm that computes systolic and diastolic blood pressure from pulse wave velocity. The results are promising and at least at rest we met the recommendations of the IEEE standard for blood pressure measurement devices without cuffs. An individual one-point calibration was needed and also after a week the values where within the recommended limits.
Besides blood pressure calculation, pulse wave velocity has its own diagnostic value as a proxy of arterial stiffness, which might be even more important for cardiovascular health than simple blood pressure. The latter is determined by cardiac output and peripheral resistance, which have different origins and meaning.
Therefore the answer is: yes, pulse wave velocity is a valuable tool for cardiovascular health determination.
Hola, Farid. Desde mi humilde lugar de veterinario de pequeñas especies te digo mi experiencia con respecto a lo que podemos obtener del pulso en cuestiones cardiovasculares y no cardiovasculares. La onda de pulso se altera ante la compresión de la aurícula derecha, dando un signo clínico que llamamos pulso paradójico. No es mi especialidad la medicina cardiovascular, pero en los pacientes con taponamiento cardíaco es un hallazgo clínico ese pulso que por momentos está fuerte y luego débil casi inaparente. No es solo el taponamiento el que produce este signo clínico, sino cualquier estructura (hemangiosarcoma en auricula derecha, etc) que comprima el sector derecho del corazón. Saludos, suerte con tu investigación
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