Abstract
Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension, as well as a potential therapeutic target. There is increasing awareness that the pulsatile hemodynamics (central blood pressure [CBP], pulse pressure [PP], wave reflections [augmentation index or AIx] and pulse wave velocity [PWV]) may provide better insight into the pathophysiology of CV disorders and target organ damage related to hypertension. Different antihypertensive drugs produce diverse effects on arterial stiffness variables, despite similar effects on peripheral (brachial) blood pressure. Identifying the pharmacologic interventions that can improve arterial stiffness (‘de-stiffening’ treatment) is a promising field of research.
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Acknowledgments
This review was written independently; no company or institution supported it financially and there are no conflicts of interest. Some of the authors attended conferences, have given lectures, and have participated on advisory boards or other trials sponsored by various pharmaceutical companies.
C. Koumaras, T.D. Gossios, and N. Katsiki are supported by an educational grant from the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society.
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Koumaras, C., Tzimou, M., Stavrinou, E. et al. Role of Antihypertensive Drugs in Arterial ‘De-Stiffening’ and Central Pulsatile Hemodynamics. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 12, 143–156 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2165/11599040-000000000-00000
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11599040-000000000-00000