American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology · 1979 · 157 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesCardiologyPhysiologyClinical CardiologyHemodynamic ManagementPathophysiologyBlood Pressure RegulationCardiovascular DiseaseCardiovascular PathophysiologyCardiovascular PhysiologyHemodynamicsHemodynamics ModelingArterial ComplianceBlood PressureBlood Pressure ModelingHypertension PathophysiologySubjectsTotal ResistanceVascular Compliance ModelingVascular Function In Hypertension
Cardiac output, blood pressure, and the characteristics of diastolic pressure decay were studied in 12 normal subjects and 23 sustained hypertensive patients of the same age. In normal subjects and in hypertensives, analysis of the diastolic decay showed that i) the form of the decay approximated a simple monoexponential curve during the last two-thirds of the diastolic segment, and ii) the time constant (t) of the curve was positively correlated with the total peripheral resistance (TPR), with an intercept of nearly zero. The validity of the relationship t = K x TPR was demonstrated both in groups of patients and also in individuals. Using a simple model for the vascular system, the K value was identified as the large arteries compliance and could thus be calculated in each individual. The values of arterial compliance was 1.26 +/- 0.04 ml.mmHg-1.m-2 in normal subjects and was significantly reduced in hypertensive patients (0.88 +/- 0.02 ml.mmHg=1.m-2,. P less than 0.001).