Underestimation of Vasodilator Effects of Nitroglycerin by Upper Limb Blood Pressure

• DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.26.3.520
• Publication Date: 2012-06-12T00:24:03Z
• Authors: Kenji Takazawa; Nobuhiro Tanaka; Kazuhiro Takeda; Fujio Kurosu; Chiharu Ibukiyama
• Keywords: Pulse pressure; Brachial artery; Aortic pressure; Systole

To determine why upper limb blood pressure measurement underestimates the vasodilator effects of nitroglycerin on lowering ascending aortic systolic pressure, we studied 24 patients (58 +/- 11 years, mean SD). Ascending and radial artery pulse calibrated by cuff at brachial were recorded simultaneously before 5 minutes after sublingual administration 0.3 mg nitroglycerin. Waves analyzed a signal processor, fourth derivative wave was used to find early (S1) late (S2) shoulders (S1 corresponds second zero crossing S2 third crossing). Before administration, maximal in aorta (141 21 mm Hg) coincided with peak all patients, most (21 24) (140 19 peak. Maximal decreased more than (22 13 Hg, respectively; P < .001). However, reduction shoulder (24 clearly indicated (late peak) aorta. The augmentation index ratio height fell proportionally (r = .74, .001) (from 0.88 0.13 0.60 0.11) 1.57 0.25 1.26 0.24), which pressures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)