Arterial wall dynamics

Abstract

An early change in arterial wall dynamics introduced as a novel risk factor for cardiovascular events in various populations is discussed in this review. Distensibility of an artery segment as reflection of the mechanical stress affecting the arterial wall during the cardiac cycle has been intensively studied recent years through the technological development of high-resolution ultrasound systems. A decrease of arterial distensibility (i.e. increase of arterial wall stiffness) seems to be a common pathological mechanism for many factors associated with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. It is difficult to define the role of each factor affecting the arterial wall motions dependent mainly on the left ventricle, intra arterial pressure and blood volume, endothelium function, smooth muscle tone and neural control mechanism. The calculations of arterial compliance, elastic modulus, augmentation pressure, stiffness and intima-media thickness may help to identify the role of each mechanism if they are based on high-tech measurements of arterial wall. The role of nervous regulation of blood vessel's tone in this process is not clear. Our studies show the strong correlation between autonomic imbalance and increase of carotid arterial distensibility in young patients. Various possible relationships between changes in the dynamic artery wall properties and neural regulation are discussed.