Pulse wave velocity

The pulse wave velocity is the speed at which the pressure wave passes through the arteries of the organism. This speed is higher than the flow velocity of the blood.

Due to the different structure of the arterial wall of the pulse wave velocity varies. In the aorta, it is due to the elasticity of this blood vessel 4 to 6 m / s In the periphery, eg the extremities, it rises due to the relatively rigid vessel walls (increased modulus of elasticity ) and the smaller lumens with a simultaneous increase of the wall thickness values ​​of 8-12 m / s. By remodeling during aging is a v. elastic connective tissue replaced in elastic arteries such as the aorta by collagenous connective tissue, a process that also has an increased pulse wave velocity. When symptoms of atherosclerosis, the pulse wave velocity is due to the deposition of substances also increased on the walls of blood vessels and a consequent loss of elasticity.

The measurement of pulse wave velocity may permit, inter alia, statements about the mortality in eg diabetes mellitus or end stage renal disease and also help assess overall cardiovascular risk factors due to the associated with pathological changes values ​​in the vasculature. The pulse wave velocity allows the pulse transit time to calculate.